BlueCross BlueShieldof Kansas City

The University of Kansas Hospital

Richard and Annette BlochCancer Care Pavilion

The University of Kansas Medical Center

Roy Jensen, DirectorThe University of Kansas Cancer Center

THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CANCER CENTER

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is transforming cancer research and clinical care

by linking an innovative approach to drug discovery, delivery and development to a nationally accredited patient care program.

To further advance exceptional research and patient care, The University of Kansas Cancer Center plans to apply for designation as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer center. This designation will bring millions of dollars in additional research grants to KU and attract world-class cancer physicians and researchers to develop lifesaving treatments. But more importantly, recent statistics indicate that the survival rate for patients treated at an NCI designated cancer center is approximately 25 percent better than those treated elsewhere. Currently, the Kansas City metropolitan area is one of the largest cities in size and scope without an NCI-designated cancer center. The people of our region deserve better.

With an NCI application deadline of September 2011, there is an urgent need for philanthropic funding to recruit outstanding researchers and physician scientists to further our quest for NCI designation.

In the fight against cancer, great strength lies in partnerships —

especially when they consist of leading edge researchers, dedicated health-care providers, determined patients, and generous donors.

Today, these partnerships are reaching across state lines and political parties in the Kansas City metropolitan area to converge in a synergy that will result in saving lives and greatly improving the patients’ quality of life.

By stepping into the highest tier of cancer centers, The University of Kansas Cancer Center will be positioned to attract new research faculty members, greater federal and private research funding, new resources for determining and providing more effective treatments, and greater opportunities for researchers to collaborate with programs across the country. Perhaps most importantly, cancer patients in this region who currently travel to distant states will be able to receive the most advanced cancer treatment methods closer to home.

COMMUNITY

PARTNERSHIPS

& PARTICIPATION

THE EMERGING FRONTIER

OF CANCER PREVENTION

An essential piece of building a world-class cancer center is to rely on the expertise of those within your institution and to create comprehensive programs

that foster collaborations. If together we are able to unravel the mysteries of cancer and understand the science of the disease, our researchers and physician scientists will hold the critical information necessary to prevent it from occurring. At The University of Kansas Cancer Center, a multi-disciplinary cancer prevention research program is an essential component of this collaborative effort.

The definition of cancer is deceptively simple: “A malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division; it may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream.” Behind the definition of cancer is a complex and evolving disease, consisting of over two hundred types and variations, which can be triggered by a wide range of factors ranging from genetics to lifestyle choices to environment just to name a few. Increasing our knowledge of the root causes of cancer so that the foundation can be laid to fight this disease, is central to the cancer prevention efforts ongoing at The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s two primary efforts to unlock the mysteries of cancer are:

Cancer Prevention Research Program – dedicated to developing strategies for the improvement of predicting the risk of cancer as well as its prevention. In addition, it is also charged with developing strategies to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors. Since its origins in 2005 under the leadership of Dr. Carol Fabian, the focus of the Cancer Prevention Program has been to develop molecular markers that determine a person’s risk for suffering a particular type of cancer and the subsequent need–or lack thereof–for preventive intervention. The Cancer Prevention Program is unique in that it brings together a variety of investigators with expertise in many areas, including those not traditionally associated with oncology (such as energy balance, cardiology, reproductive endocrinology, fertility and clinical psychology) to work on problems related to cancer prevention and survivorship.

Cancer Control & Population Health Research Program (CCPH) – comprised of highly engaged researchers whose collective focus is on reducing cancer occurrences and cancer deaths in Kansas. Since its founding in 1997 by Dr. Ed Ellerbeck, the members of the CCPH program have worked tirelessly to bring beneficial scientific discoveries directly to members of local and regional communities. The CCPH program has striven to provide services to those rural and minority communities that have been traditionally underserved in the quality of cancer care they have received. The CCPH’s research priorities mirror the most common causes in cancer death in Kansas — lung, colorectal, and breast cancer.

AN INVESTMENT TOWARD

NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE DESIGNATION

At this time, several exceptional basic science researchers have been recruited to The University of Kansas Cancer Center in the area of cancer prevention. The three-to-five year startup and

recruitment packages for these positions can exceed $6 million. On behalf of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, KU Endowment respectfully asks Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City to consider an investment of $1 million to be paid over the next ten years. Support in the amount of $1 million would enable one of the following three opportunities to become a reality in the area of cancer prevention at The University of Kansas Cancer Center:

1. The creation of The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Professor in Cancer Prevention for a 10 year term from 2011 through 2020 at KU Medical Center. This investment would fund either the Cancer Center’s Associate Director for Prevention and Control, Shrikant Anant, Ph.D. or the newly created position of Program Leader in Cancer Prevention. The current areas of research focus in cancer prevention where these elite positions will have an immediate impact include— Development of molecular markers and analytical models for cancer risk

assessment and early prevention clinical trials; Phase I and II cancer prevention trials; Methods to improve delivery and uptake of prevention services,

especially in rural populations; Research in survivorship and the development of comprehensive

medical models to support the survivor community; Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of cancer development that

will inform and enhance efforts to develop new prevention strategies.

2. The creation of The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Fellowship in Cancer Prevention Biostatistics Research at KU Medical Center. This endowed fellowship would fund an outstanding biostatistics researcher whose focus would include— Developing new biostatistics methods for the design and analysis of research studies by

formulating mathematical models of biologic systems, thereby improving the efficiency of current and future cancer prevention studies;

Ensuring that the design, data collection, analysis, and research conclusions of a cancer prevention study are scientifically rigorous through the application of mathematical/statistical reasoning and methods in a health science context;

Playing a direct role in the planning and review of clinical protocols, including cancer prevention studies.

3. The creation of the “Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Program for Pilot Project Research in Cancer Prevention.” This program will be specifically designed for cancer prevention. In a competitive award process, investigators will apply for a pilot project grant addressing novel and innovative concepts in cancer prevention. Cancer center leadership will review applications and award pilot research funds. These expendable funds will ensure that at least three pilot awards annually will be awarded to innovative researchers in cancer prevention.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD

OF KANSAS CITY

A TEN YEAR COMMITMENT TO

THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CANCER CENTER

2011 - 2020

Key Cancer

Positions

Philanthropic

Investment

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS CITY PROFESSORSHIP IN

CANCER PREVENTION & CONTROL

The investment provides during its term sustainable support for salary required travel and/or other

expenses essential for conducting scholarly activity. Funding is provided to supplement state and other funds that support salary, benefits and scholarship.

$100,000 annually from 2011 through 2020

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS CITYFELLOWSHIP IN CANCER PREVENTION

BIOSTATISTICS RESEARCH

This endowed fellowship provides sustainable support for salary, additional staff, required travel and/or other expenses essential for conducting

scholarly activity. Funding from the endowment is provided to supplement state and other funds that

support salary, benefits and scholarship.

$1 million endowment with $46,000 at 4.6 percent earnings from endowment. Modest funds

would be available annually from pledge payments towards endowment in accordance with

KU Endowment’s spending policy.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS CITY PROGRAM FOR PILOT PROJECT RESEARCH IN

CANCER PREVENTION

This expendable investment provides support for research and laboratory materials as principal

investigators conduct scholarly research in cancer prevention. Funding is provided to

supplement state and other funds that support salary, benefits and scholarship.

$100,000 annually from 2011 through 2020

THE VALUE OF PRIVATE

PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT

Private donations make a significant impact in enhancing The University of Kansas Cancer

Center’s ability to attract and retain the nation’s finest cancer researchers and physician scientists to the institution by providing funds that the state of Kansas alone cannot.

For more than 40 years, funds dedicated to the recruitment and ongoing support of physicians and researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center have helped KU remain steadfast in investing in its most viable resource: our faculty. Without private support, The University of Kansas Cancer Center will be unable to compete with other institutions to retain and recruit the brightest minds in cancer research.

Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

Recognizing those individuals, foundations, and corporations that demonstrate leadership in bringing NCI designation to the Kansas City region is important to The University of Kansas

Cancer Center. The University of Kansas Cancer Center commits to recognizing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City’s generous philanthropic investment in the following ways:

1. Ensuring that any professorships or fellowships funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City are styled as “(name), The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Professor (or Fellow) for Cancer Prevention (or Cancer Prevention Biostatistics Research)” in all media releases, academic conference and symposia programs, and all academic journal and publications;

2. Making the Professor or Fellow available to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City for up to four (4) community events organized or sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield annually;

3. Making the Professor available to provide text for an annual article on cancer prevention in a Blue Cross Blue Shield member newsletter or magazine;

4. Giving Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City the first opportunity to utilize any of the biostatistics data collected by a Blue Cross Blue Shield endowed biostatistics researcher at the University of Kansas Cancer Center;

5. Ensuring that any pilot projects in cancer prevention funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City would be referred to as “A Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Pilot Research Project in Cancer Prevention” on The University of Kansas Cancer Center web-site and in print materials.

RECOGNIZING BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF

KANSAS CITY’S PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT

THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE

OF NCI DESIGNATION

The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s effort to achieve National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation as a Cancer

Center has been identified as the single greatest opportunity to significantly change the landscape of our community for future generations. The “Time to Get It Right,” a 2005 blue ribbon report identified the life sciences as the area in which Kansas City has the greatest potential of becoming a world leader. The report, commissioned by several area foundations and led by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, cited achieving NCI designation as the highest priority within that goal.

This has led to the formation of Cancer Funding Partners, a group of business and civic leaders from Kansas City and Wichita, who are leading the effort to raise private funds to help achieve NCI designation. These individuals share a common belief that achieving NCI designation must be the top civic priority because of the positive effects it will have for our community and region.

This year more than 25,700 citizens in Kansas and western Missouri will be diagnosed with cancer and, while cancer death rates are declining nationally, rates in this region are falling at only one-third of the pace of the rest of the nation. An NCI-designated cancer center in our community will improve cancer care and save lives through the synergistic relationships developed between researcher and physician, while also improving access to cutting-edge clinical trials leading to better health in the region.

As health care will no doubt continue to comprise an ever increasing share of our local, state, and national gross domestic product, it will also become a driver for future jobs in our region. In 2009, a five-year update to the “Time to Get It Right” report was released that emphasized the importance of achieving NCI designation as a cornerstone of the long-term strategy to secure Kansas City’s future as a competitive, world-class city in the global economy.

The economic benefits of bringing an NCI designated cancer center to Kansas City are significant and quantifiable. Currently, every $1 million in National Institutes of Health funding translates to $2.21 million in new economic activity generated by the receiving institution. It is estimated that the region stands to gain 9,400 permanent new jobs creating $1.3 billion

in annual economic activity after The University of Kansas Cancer Center receives Comprehensive Cancer Center designation from the NCI. In addition, the region will save $584 million from reduced cancer mortality while, at the same time, saving lives. The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s efforts to achieve NCI designation have been identified as a top priority of both the current chair of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Peter deSilva, as well as incoming chair Greg Graves.

NCI designation provides a unique opportunity for cooperation that transcends the historical and political boundaries that continue to play a significant role in the culture of our region. Through bi-state collaborative efforts such as the Midwest Cancer Alliance, this civic effort has the chance to fundamentally change the paradigm of how our community is perceived and ensures our position as a world-class city whose region can and will compete in the international marketplace.

On behalf of Dr. Roy Jensen, and the staff of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, KU Endowment thanks the Board of Directors of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City for their consideration of this proposal.

TIME TO GET IT RIGHT:STAYING COMPETITIVE IN THE NEW ECONOMY

THE VIEW FROM YEAR FIVE

“NCI designation would be very important to the KC community, since it provides high visibility, attracts further investments and talent to the region and has the potential for significant economic impact.”

- The Time To Get It Right: Staying Competitive In The New Economy (2010)

The Report of a Blue Ribbon Task Force commissioned by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

NCI designation is an important part of the (again) collaborative and overall effort to grow the region’s life sciences. Combined with the resources of the Stowers Institute and the KC Animal Health Corridor, NCI designation will provide a significant step forward for our community. I hope you will do whatever you can to support the effort.

- Peter deSilva, Chairman, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce

www.kuendowment.org