BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has earned an 'Exceptional' rating from the National Cancer Institute, the most highly rated grant from the NCI.
On Friday, Dr. Candace Johnson, President, CEO and M&T Bank Presidential Chair, shared the welcome news with the community and Roswell's staff of 4,188 who made it all possible.
"Be proud about this. We all worked so hard," Dr. Johnson said.
The NCI renewed Roswell Park's status as a Comprehensive Cancer Center - a designation held by less than four percent of cancer centers. The award renews a grant Roswell Park has successfully competed for since 1972.
"Roswell Park is indeed an elite, not just good, an elite cancer center, one of the very best in the nation powered by each and every one of you," Leecia Eve, Roswell Park Board of Directors Chair, said.
Turtle clan member and former Seneca Nation president, Todd Gates, was emotional at the celebration sharing news and gratitude for Roswell.
"I got good news the Thursday before Memorial Day that I was cancer-free," Gates said.
He and his wife were both treated for cancer at Roswell.
"I'm blessed. God's been good to me," Gates said.
Deputy Erie County Executive Lisa Chimera said her daughter was also treated for leukemia at Roswell.
"She is now a teacher teaching students with special needs. You are exceptional because you have given my daughter and all of our family a beautiful woman who is making a difference in the world today," Chimera said.
Mayor Byron Brown honored Roswell and shared that he has close friends battling cancer.
"And I am looking forward to the day that I join them to ring the victory bell," Brown said.
The five-year award is Roswell Park's 13 consecutive Cancer Center Support Grant from the NCI. No cancer center has held this designation longer than Roswell Park.
This achievement follows an in-depth review by cancer experts from around the country. Roswell Park says it signifies the highest level of documented excellence in cancer research, patient care and community outreach.
In Roswell Park's application for renewal, it said it had growth across the board from 2018-2023:
- Number of patients served increased by 26%
- Clinical activities grew by 51%
- Education/outreach services were provided to more than 14,000 community members at elevated risk for cancer
- Number of patients enrolled on clinical trial assessing new therapies or treatment strategies increased 53%
- Number of cancer screening/early detection procedures increased 86%
- Staffing across the center grew 22%, with nurse staffing up 47% and all clinical staffing up 28%
- People from underrepresented communities now make up 27% of staff in leadership positions and more than half of clinical and scientific trainees
- Grant funding went up 50% to nearly $79 million, with 74% of those funds awarded through competitive NCI awards
- 29% of published studies are in top-tier, high-impact journals — up nearly 20 percentage points
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health. It is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training.
