Business leaders help KU pursue NCI designation

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- The effort to have the Kansas Cancer Center designated as a National Cancer Institute is getting a boost from some business and civic leaders.

The leaders from Kansas City and Wichita have formed a group that hopes to raise $92 million by the time the University of Kansas applies for the designation in September 2011.

On Monday, the Sunderland Foundation announced a $1 million gift to the Kansas Cancer Center. Being designated as a National Cancer Institute would allow the center to attract more federal grants, clinical trials and research programs.

Charlie Sunderland, CEO of the Overland Park-based Ash Grove Cement Co., is leading the new Cancer Funding Partners. The group will emphasize the humanitarian and economic benefits the center would bring to the region.

"I really see this as the major civic opportunity for the Midwest to support," Sunderland said Monday.

Many cancer patients currently have to travel long distances to receive the high quality of care offered at National Cancer Institutes in places such as Houston, Sunderland said.

Sunderland, who was diagnosed more than 15 years ago with a treatable form of leukemia, said he has benefited from cancer research.

"Not all cancer patients are so lucky," said Sunderland, who also serves on the authority board for the University of Kansas Hospital. "I'm a direct beneficiary of a lot of good research that's been done before."

Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said the university is "heartened to see committed people jump on board" efforts to achieve the designation.

Greg Graves, CEO of Burns & McDonnell, is another member of the new council.

"I can't imagine anything more critical to the future of the Kansas City metro area in terms of a single item than KU Hospital achieving NCI designation," he said.

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Information from: Lawrence Journal-World, http://www.ljworld.com