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Charter forms Midwest Cancer Alliance, advances KU's fight

Marking a significant milestone in regional cancer collaboration and meeting criteria set forth in the Time To Get It Right report, regional hospitals and research institutions joined together recently to sign a charter creating the Midwest Cancer Alliance Partners Advisory Board.

Initial board members are: Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics; Kansas Bioscience Authority; Kansas State University's Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research; Saint Luke's Health System; Stormont-Vail HealthCare; Stowers Institute for Medical Research; KU Hospital; Truman Medical Center; KU Medical Center; and Via Christi Health System.

The alliance, known as MCA Partners Advisory Board, advances the pursuit of National Cancer Institute designation for the region by demonstrating collaboration of key hospitals and research institutions in the areas of research and education.

"The regional community asked that we create a collaborative partnership with area hospitals and research institutions in the Time To Get It Right report," said Roy Jensen, director of the KU Cancer Center and chief executive officer of the Midwest Cancer Alliance. "By creating the MCA Partners Advisory Board, we meet this objective and have created a collaborative model that will move us closer to our goal of achieving NCI designation for this region and improve the health of our community."

In addition to signing the charter, the MCA Partners Advisory Board held an open meeting after the signing ceremony and passed a resolution in support of the Johnson County and Education Research Triangle. In addition to expanding programs on K-State's Olathe Innovation campus and KU's Edwards campus, the triangle initiative would also create a clinical and translational research center, allowing the KU Cancer Center to expand its Phase I clinical trials program.

The MCA Partners Advisory Board will help with strategic planning toward achieving NCI designation and will provide input on research programs to leverage unique regional strengths in areas such as drug discovery and development.

"The regional hospitals and research institutions play an important role and are significant elements in the region's life sciences and cancer effort," said former Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer, chair of the MCA Partners Advisory Board. "All members of the new board should be commended for recognizing the importance of collaboration and seeing this effort as the right thing to do for people battling cancer in this region."

The board will serve in an advisory capacity to Jensen to comply with criteria established by the NCI.

KU HISTORY:

Today's students pulling all-nighters and cramming for tests would certainly not please former Chancellor James Marvin. At the opening convocation on Sept. 15, 1875, Marvin advised students, "System and division of time are essential to success in school work. A time for everything and everything on time is the only rule whereby students may be saved. But whatever is done, let a scrupulous regard for physical health and strength be paramount. Sleep enough, exercise enough and by that means and that alone will you be enabled to study enough." For more, visit www.kuhistory.com.