Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center received an overall “exceptional” score for its research impact and excellence in patient care.
The renewal of the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant provides Vanderbilt-Ingram more than $36 million over the next five years to advance research discoveries, to sustain the work of its scientific leadership and administration, and to maintain its infrastructure, including shared resources for cancer investigators.
The grant renewal represents an increase in funding over the previous five-year grant award with new support for research education, training, career development, and community outreach and engagement
This is the fifth renewal of Vanderbilt-Ingram as an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, three with Jennifer Pietenpol as director. It is the only Comprehensive Cancer Center in Tennessee providing treatment for adult and pediatric patients, and 1 of only 51 in the country to earn this highest distinction from the NCI. Vanderbilt-Ingram ranks in the top 10 matrix cancer centers nationwide for cancer research grant support, receiving $141 million in annual cancer-related funding.
“Hundreds of people made this CCSG renewal possible, and I am so appreciative of their hard work,” said Pietenpol, director of Vanderbilt-Ingram, executive vice president for research at VUMC, the B.F. Byrd Jr. Professor of Oncology and holder of the Brock Family Directorship in Career Development. “I am proud to work alongside highly talented and dedicated deputy directors, program leaders, associate directors, clinical teams, and researchers dedicated to lessening the cancer burden. The culture of collaboration at Vanderbilt-Ingram, combined with research excellence and high-quality patient care, are the distinctive capabilities with which we lead.”
Currently, 283 faculty members are engaged in Vanderbilt-Ingram’s research and clinical initiatives. Theresa Sberna, chief business officer for Vanderbilt-Ingram and deputy director for strategy and analytics, and Julie Schaum, director for research administration, lead essential administrative and operational functions for the cancer research enterprise and led the development of systems to orchestrate the collection and presentation of data for the renewal application and site visit.
For patients, an NCI Comprehensive Care Center provides promising new therapies, including clinical trials and a care program focused on excellence. Vanderbilt-Ingram was among the first cancer centers to offer new immunotherapies and targeted therapies, and during the past five years, has led or partnered in 31 FDA-registration clinical trials.
Working in partnership with Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, and Federally Qualified Health Centers, Vanderbilt-Ingram continues to identify and address racial disparities in cancer incidence and care. It houses multiple NCI-designated Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE), including breast and gastrointestinal cancers.
