Dartmouth Cancer Center was recently re-designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). A division of the National Institutes of Health, NCI bestows the Comprehensive Cancer Center designation to less than 60 of the 3,500 cancer centers nationwide. Founded in 1972, Dartmouth Cancer Center is one of NCI’s longest continually designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Its renewed designation includes a grant in the amount of $13 million.
NCI-Designated Cancer Centers are characterized by scientific excellence and the capability to integrate a diversity of research approaches to focus on the problem of cancer. Comprehensive Cancer Centers are recognized for their scientific leadership, resources, and the depth and breadth of their research in basic, clinical, and/or prevention, cancer control, and population science, as well as substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas. There are currently 57 nationally, and Dartmouth Cancer Center is the only Comprehensive Cancer Center in northern New England and one of just three in New England overall (the others being Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Massachusetts and Yale Cancer Center in Connecticut).
“I couldn't be prouder of all our teams at Dartmouth Cancer Center as we enter our second half-century of continuous NCI designation,” said Steven M. Leach, MD, director of Dartmouth Cancer Center. “Our deep integration across Dartmouth Health and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, our groundbreaking research that transcends disciplines, and, most importantly, our unparalleled bond with the communities we serve, makes our Cancer Center truly unique among this elite group.”
NCI-designated Cancer Centers must apply to renew their designation every five years. Dartmouth Cancer Center’s re-application process started nearly four years ago, and included an 1,850-page application and site visit by NCI in April 2024.
Dartmouth Cancer Center’s renewed NCI designation extends through November 2029.
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About Dartmouth Cancer Center: Dartmouth Cancer Center combines advanced cancer research at Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine, with award-winning, personalized, and compassionate patient-centered cancer care and clinical trials based at the Norris Cotton Cancer Care Pavilion at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. With 14 locations around New Hampshire and Vermont, Dartmouth Cancer Center is one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Each year the Dartmouth Cancer Center schedules 74,000 appointments seeing more than 4,500 newly diagnosed patients, and currently offers patients more than 240 active clinical trials. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, Dartmouth Cancer Center remains committed to excellence, outreach and education. We strive to prevent and cure cancer, enhance survivorship and promote cancer health equity through pioneering interdisciplinary research and collaborations. Learn more at http://cancer.dartmouth.edu.
