IL HR0579

Illinois has the sixth highest cancer mortality rate in the country and among the highest socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and rural disparities in cancer outcomes.

The University of Illinois Cancer Center (UICC) has worked for over 30 years to reduce cancer disparities through basic science, translational science, and population science research focused on screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.

National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation provides elite U.S. medical institutions accreditation to demonstrate leadership in addressing the nation's cancer burden and offers over $1 billion in potential economic impact through job creation and research funding.

NCI-designated cancer centers benefit communities with federal funding for training diverse healthcare workers, STEM education, community engagement infrastructure, and cutting-edge cancer therapies that reduce patient mortality rates.

The House supports accreditation of UICC as an additional NCI-designated cancer center in Illinois, which would join Northwestern University and University of Chicago as the third such center in the state and focus on eliminating cancer disparities through community partnerships.