Our NCI Designation Journey
When you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, the last thing you should have to worry about is how far you’ll need to travel for quality and affordable cancer care.
Unfortunately, this has been a reality for Louisianans. Due to geographical and financial constraints, many have suffered due to a lack of access to quality cancer care. As a result, our state has one of the highest cancer mortality rates in the nation at 218.2 per 100,000 residents.
At LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, we recognize the need for excellent cancer care and innovations close to home. All Louisianans deserve access to state-of-the-art approaches to new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer.
That’s why we’re on a journey to join the prestigious group of 73NCI-Designated Cancer Centersin the United States supported by the National Cancer Institute. Through this designation, LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center can continue to provide excellent care in a convenient and familiar environment.
What is an NCI-Designated Cancer Center?
The National Cancer Institute (NCI)is the US government's agency for cancer research and training. As a part of the National Cancer Act of 1971, the NCI Cancer Centers program was created to identify cancer centers across the country that meet the highest standards for cancer research and care. This includes interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art lab and clinical cancer research that helps prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer.
An NCI-Designated cancer center is also committed to focusing on programs and services that meet the needs of their specific populations to provide evidence-based knowledge to their own communities and benefit similar populations across the country.
In the past few decades, NCI-Designated cancer centers have helped advance cancer research at a rapid pace. As a result, the number of cancer survivors and the quality of patients’ lives have improved immeasurably.
NCI-Designation at LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center
Today, the closest NCI-Designated cancer centers are hundreds of miles away. Patients in Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast should not have to forgo critical cancer care because they are unable to travel.
Together, world-renowned cancer research experts at the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center and partners including LSU, LSU Health New Orleans, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and the LSU Vet School, have paved the way in laboratory, clinical and behavioral cancer research. Through clinical trials, cancer screenings, and cancer care, our researchers improve the outcomes of patients right here in Louisiana. Patients can receive personalized care that prioritizes prevention, detection, and treatment to help improve the lives of those living with cancer at one of LCMC Health's hospitals. Attaining NCI Designation will provide patients who come to University Medical Center or Manning Family's Children Hospital New Orleans the best care and will enhance the ability to attract more patients from across the state.
Achieving National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation would not only elevate cancer care and research in Louisiana. It would also bring significant economic benefits to the state. NCI-Designated Cancer Centers attract millions in federal research funding, create high-paying jobs, and draw top-tier talent in science, medicine, and technology. These centers also foster innovation-driven partnerships with biotech, pharmaceutical, and healthcare companies, strengthening the local economy and positioning Louisiana as a national hub for cancer research and advanced care. For communities across the state, the ripple effects mean better health outcomes and a stronger, more resilient economy.
The Cancer Center has a defined catchment area that can be found here.
Excellent cancer care should be a right, not a privilege. At LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, our journey to become NCI-designated demonstrates our commitment to serving our local communities and advancing cancer research across the nation.