State Allocation Granted to Wilmot Lab for Research Enhancements by New York
The University of Rochester's (UR) Wilmot Cancer Center is making significant strides in its mission to become a top cancer centre in the U.S., with its application for a special research grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). If successful, this designation would elevate Wilmot to the ranks of the nation's leading cancer centres.
At the heart of this ambitious project is the Biobank, a comprehensive catalogue of tissue and genetic material obtained with consent from cancer patients. This resource offers consultation services to scientists, playing a pivotal role in cancer research.
The Biobank's laboratory upgrades are a crucial part of this mission. If completed, these upgrades will enable UR to increase their workforce by adding eight additional full-time jobs. The state funds for these improvements were awarded through the state's Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council (FLREDC) Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process, with Wilmot and the University of Rochester investing an additional $1.7 million.
The lab upgrades are designed to meet the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) goals and requirements for tissue banks. These include the collection, storage, and distribution of high-quality biospecimens, ethical and legal considerations, standardization and data sharing, advanced research infrastructure, and a collaborative research environment.
John Ashton, PhD, MBA, serves as the director of Wilmot Shared Resources, overseeing these crucial developments. His team's efforts are supported by NY State Assemblymember Harry Bronson, who has expressed his backing for the UR Wilmot Cancer Center's planned expansion and lab upgrades. Bronson cites the centre's role as the largest oncology service centre in New York outside of New York City.
NY State Senator Samra Brouk is also proud to have advocated for significant investment from New York State for Wilmot Cancer Center. The centre serves a Rochester region that encompasses 27 counties and more than 3 million residents, making it equivalent in size to Vermont, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire combined.
The high cancer incidence in the Wilmot's region, second only to Kentucky in the U.S., according to Wilmot data, underscores the urgent need for advanced cancer research. Wilmot scientists use the Biobank for conducting studies aimed at developing new cancer treatments and improving the lives of patients and survivors.
Brad Mills, PhD, leads the Biobank at Wilmot Cancer Center, ensuring the ethical, legal, and social implications of biobanking are adhered to while fostering a collaborative environment that promotes interdisciplinary research, innovation, and the translation of basic research findings into clinical applications.
Studies like the Vanguard Study, which evaluates multi-cancer detection tests, demonstrate how NCI collaborations can advance cancer screening and treatment strategies. Such activities highlight the importance of tissue banks in facilitating cutting-edge research and clinical trials.
By meeting these requirements and goals, tissue banks within NCI-designated cancer centres support the mission of advancing cancer research and improving patient outcomes. The Wilmot Cancer Center's commitment to these principles brings it one step closer to achieving the coveted NCI designation.
- The Biobank, a crucial resource for cancer research at the University of Rochester's Wilmot Cancer Center, offers consultation services to scientists, focusing on medical-conditions like cancer, thereby contributing significantly to health-and-wellness and the advancement of science.
- With the lab upgrades aiming to meet the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) goals and requirements for tissue banks, the University of Rochester's Wilmot Cancer Center can further its mission to improve patient outcomes through advanced cancer research.
