NCI to Renew CCC Core Grant

OHIO STATE TO GET $8.8 MILLION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

     COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University officials expect the
National Cancer Advisory Board once again to fund the
university's Comprehensive Cancer Center when the board meets
next week.

     The award carries a grant of $8.8 million in support over
the next four years.  The National Cancer Institute periodically
reviews programs carrying the CCC designation.  The site review
for this new grant took place last fall.

     The Comprehensive Cancer Center designation awarded by the
NCI denotes the highest levels of cancer research, treatment and
education available and is held by only 27 institutions across
the country.  Ohio State has the only such center in the state.

     "We view this latest success as an indication of the
outstanding quality and breadth of cancer programs under way here
on behalf of the people of Ohio," explained David E. Schuller,
director of Ohio State's cancer programs.

     "In a time when federal research support is becoming harder
to obtain, Ohio State's long history of continuing support from
the NCI is high praise indeed."

     In its recommendation for supporting the Ohio State program,
the scientific review committee wrote that they found "strong
evidence of the commitment of the institution (Ohio State) to
this center," citing specifically the success of the Arthur G.
James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute as "an outstanding
dedicated facility."

     Institutions must exhibit success in six essential
characteristics to receive such "core grants," as well as the CCC
designation.  The review committee found that in four of these --
(1) institutional commitment, (2) facilities, (3) qualifications
and authority of the director, and (4) cancer focus -- Ohio State
was rated outstanding.  The remaining two -- organizational
capabilities and interdisciplinary coordination/collaboration --
were rated excellent and very good, respectively.

     The committee cited Schuller's role as key to the center's
success, saying: "The membership, facilities and research funding
have increased under his strong and effective leadership.  In the
past six years, he has proved that he is an effective director of
this cancer center."

     The committee also lauded the center's outstanding resources
and very highly regarded basic research.

     The evaluation of a program such as Ohio State's is an
enormous task.  The review process involved an assessment of 13
individual programs and an additional 13 support services
provided by the NCI core grant.  The written proposal submitted
by the university to apply for the grant was almost a foot thick.

     Seven of the 13 research programs were considered excellent
to outstanding while five more were rated as very good or better.
And six of the 13 support services received a rating of
outstanding.  The committee also reviewed the new human genetics
program and rated it as outstanding as well.

     Nearly 2,500 people are enrolled in either therapeutic or
cancer control clinical trials offered through Ohio State's
Comprehensive Cancer Center.  The center is home to more than 200
cancer researchers from 11 different colleges at the university,
who conduct basic laboratory research and clinical trials.

     The cancer mortality rate in Ohio is 5.1 percent higher than
the national average, ranking the state ninth in the nation in
cancer death rates, based on information provided by the American
Cancer Society.

     The National Cancer Advisory Board is to meet Monday (1/9)
and Tuesday (1/10) in Bethesda, Md., to decide on Ohio State's
grant, as well as those from other national centers.

                                #

Contact:  Members of the news media should contact Marci
McNaghten at (614) 293-6054 to arrange interviews.
Written by Earle Holland.


[Submitted by: REIDV  (reidv@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
               
Fri, 06 Jan 1995 09:46:20 -0500 (EST)]
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