We are proud to share that the Wilmot Cancer Institute, including locations in Wellsville and Olean, part of Jones Memorial Hospital, has been named the 73rd National Cancer Institute designated cancer center. This places Wilmot among the top 4% of all cancer centers in the US. Wilmot is the largest cancer center in upstate New York, seeing over 45,000 patients annually.
We are grateful to Congressman Nick Langworthy for his continued support. The congressman expressed his congratulations stating, “Congratulations to the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute on being awarded the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Support Grant. I was proud to offer my support for this grant as Wilmot is an established leader in cancer care and research in our region. Now being designated an NCI Cancer Center, the Wilmot Center will have access to improved research methods, enhanced prevention programs, and the highest quality cancer care for New Yorkers. This is a huge step towards elevating cancer research for the citizens of Upstate and Western New York.”
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The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has named the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute as the nation’s 73rd designated cancer center. The distinction places the institute in the top 4 percent of all cancer centers in the United States. Wilmot is New York state’s largest cancer center outside of New York City, seeing an average of 7,000 new cancer cases a year.
With this designation, Wilmot joins an elite class of centers that have been through a rigorous evaluation process and selected to be at the forefront of research, community engagement, education and training, and life-saving care in the United States. NCI designation comes with $10 million in funding over five years to expand patient access to clinical trials and develop new research initiatives.
Wilmot is the only cancer center serving a unique and diverse part of New York—more than three million people across 27 counties in the western and central part of the state—plagued by high cancer rates and challenges related to an aging population, poverty, and vast rural areas, which can impede access to care.
The NCI recognizes that Wilmot can meet the challenges of delivering superb care to this region while also conducting research that leads to cutting-edge clinical trials and other innovations. Wilmot patients will have access to the newest technology and clinical trials that are only available at NCI-Designated Cancer Centers. The NCI funding over five years also supports community outreach geared toward cancer prevention, awareness, and improving access to cancer services, with a focus on underserved areas across upstate New York.
“This designation is the result of years of dedication by our team at Wilmot, with invaluable support from the University, medical center, and our community,” says Jonathan Friedberg, director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute. “It marks an extraordinary milestone in the history of the cancer center at the University of Rochester, and we take great pride in what it means for our patients. But this is not a finish line—it’s a new beginning. We are committed to leverage this designation toward continued growth, increasing clinical trial availability for our patients, and ultimately decrease suffering from cancer throughout our region.”
In a press conference earlier today, Friedberg, University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf, University of Rochester Medical Center CEO David Linehan, and Congressman Joseph Morelle (D, NY-25) marked the historic day. City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, and representatives for several state and federal elected officials were also in attendance to celebrate Wilmot and this new NCI designation.
“This is a great day for the University of Rochester and the Wilmot Cancer Institute,” says President Mangelsdorf. “Investing in Wilmot has been a University priority for more than a decade, because we know how much cancer impacts the people in our region. “This couldn’t have happened without the strong bipartisan support and efforts from our Congressional delegation. I want to thank Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Joe Morelle for their leadership and Senator Gillibrand, Representative Langworthy, and Representative Tenney for their strong support.
“We are so proud that Wilmot has been recognized for its effort in revitalizing the way we treat cancer, under the leadership of Dr. Jonathan Friedberg. Today we celebrate as we head down a new path to removing the burden of cancer in our community.”
Ever better cancer research and care
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training. The NCI leads, conducts, and supports cancer research across the nation to advance scientific knowledge and help all people live longer, healthier lives. Created in 1971, the NCI Cancer Centers Program is one of the anchors of the nation’s cancer research effort and is an innovation engine for US cancer research progress.
The University of Rochester and the Wilmot Cancer Institute began their years-long effort to gain NCI-Designation when Friedberg became director in 2013. Under his leadership, Wilmot enhanced its entire clinical research infrastructure and expanded Wilmot’s footprint in the region to include 13 care locations, including its main campus, located at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
More recently, Wilmot’s leaders have recruited several first-class cancer researchers and clinicians, established a vibrant community network, and reorganized the institutes research programs, culminating in a focused effort to quickly move laboratory investigations into studies that benefit patients. Due to an elite level of talent and an environment that encourages researchers and clinicians to work together, NCI-Designated Cancer Centers are uniquely structured to address complex patient needs.
“We couldn’t be prouder that Wilmot has been recognized as one of the top cancer centers in the nation and having the bipartisan support of our state and federal delegation was crucial in solidifying this designation,” says Linehan. “Team science is a hallmark of Wilmot Cancer Institute and the University of Rochester Medical Center, bringing together doctors and scientists to answer the unmet needs of our patients by improving patient care with research.”
In bipartisan letters of support for Wilmot, elected officials at the federal and state levels, including Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Senate and Assembly, emphasized the institute’s merits for designation, including enhanced public health benefit and significant economic impact for the region.
Wilmot’s reputation has long been celebrated at the national and international level—for leadership in writing new guidelines for cancer care, for clinical studies that change practice, and for research that has contributed to two of the top five advances in care during the past 50 years: the HPV vaccine and anti-nausea treatments.
NCI designation is primarily a research award, called a Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). Wilmot’s CCSG program includes more than 100 scientists who work areas across three broad research programs: cancer prevention and control; cancer microenvironment; and cancer genetics, epigenetics, and metabolism. The grant also dedicates resources for the education and training of future cancer researchers, clinical trial development, shared resources, and community outreach.
With NCI designation, Wilmot embarks on a new beginning as a nationally recognized destination for cancer research and care. Future plans include building new facilities, launching a new drug-development program, and expanding networks in the 27-county region that extends north to Oswego, south to the Pennsylvania state line, and east to Albany.
Healthcare leaders and government officials voice their support
US Senator Charles Schumer: “The Wilmot Cancer Institute is Upstate New York’s largest cancer provider and one of the top cancer research centers in the country, and I am proud to announce that following my advocacy it has received the federal Cancer Center designation. Wilmot Cancer Institute is known for its top-notch staff, who have made significant cancer discoveries and treat thousands of cancer patients each year. This designation will boost the Wilmot Cancer Institute’s capacity to conduct cancer research and treat its patients by providing additional funding, increasing clinical opportunities and reputation, and enhancing the center’s ability to recruit cancer investigators. I personally called the former NIH director to advocate for this designation last fall and will always fight to ensure New York’s medical researchers have the resources they need to provide the medical care New Yorkers deserve.”
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: “The designation of the Wilmot Cancer Institute as a federal Cancer Center is a testament to the groundbreaking clinical research, lifesaving treatments, and exceptional patient care that it provides for patients across Upstate New York. This designation will unlock additional funding, which will enhance the Wilmot Cancer Institute’s ability to advance scientific discovery and improve access to high-quality care for cancer patients. I am honored to have worked alongside Senator Schumer and Representative Morelle to secure this designation, reinforcing the Wilmot Cancer Institute’s leadership in the fight against cancer and its commitment to medical excellence, and I extend my congratulations to the University of Rochester for this prestigious designation.”
Congressman Joe Morelle: “The Wilmot Cancer Institute’s designation as a National Cancer Institute is an historic achievement—one that cements its place among the nation’s premier cancer research and treatment centers. This recognition is not just about a title; it is a testament to the relentless dedication of the doctors, researchers, and caregivers who bring hope to families in their most challenging moments. It is deeply moving to see the team that cared for my daughter, Lauren—and so many other families like ours—receive this nationally recognized symbol of excellence. I’m grateful to the many partners whose advocacy helped make this a reality, and most importantly, to the dedicated team at Wilmot fighting tirelessly for a cancer-free future.”
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney: “Congratulations to the Wilmot Cancer Institute on being designated as a National Cancer Institute! I am thrilled to see the center receive this prestigious recognition, which I advocated for during its application process. This designation acknowledges its commitment to cutting-edge cancer research and treatment and will unlock new opportunities for research funding, advancing the development of innovative treatments for cancer patients both in our region and across the nation.”
Congressman Nick Langworthy: “Congratulations to the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute on being awarded the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Support Grant. I was proud to offer my support for this grant as Wilmot is an established leader in cancer care and research in our region. Now being designated a NCI Cancer Center, the Wilmot Center will have access to improved research methods, enhanced prevention programs, and the highest quality cancer care for New Yorkers. This is a huge step towards elevating cancer research for the citizens of Upstate and Western New York.”
About the University’s Wilmot Cancer Institute
University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute is an NCI-Designated Cancer Center located in Rochester, New York. It serves a population of more than three million people across 27 counties in Western and Central New York and is the region’s leader for cancer care and research. As a component of Strong Memorial Hospital, Wilmot Cancer Institute provides specialty cancer care services at the University of Rochester Medical Center and a network of 13 locations throughout the region, including an 88-bed hospital on the campus of the University’s Medical Center. Wilmot includes a team of more than 190 oncology physicians, 500-plus oncology nurses, and approximately 115 scientists who investigate many aspects of cancer.
