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UMMC outlines bid for NCI designation and a $250–300M cancer center, asks state for $100M
Summary
UMMC officials told the committee they aim to secure National Cancer Institute designation, build a roughly 250,000 sq ft cancer center (estimated $250–300M) and requested $100M from the state toward a broader capital plan; UMMC reported $88M raised of a $125M campaign and cited an independent $1.9B, 10‑year economic impact analysis.
University of Mississippi Medical Center leaders told the select committee that establishing an NCI‑designated cancer center is their top institutional priority and would substantially improve cancer outcomes across the state.
Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs, and Dr. Rod Racony, director of UMMC’s Cancer Center Research Institute, said Mississippi ranks near the bottom nationally in cancer survival and that an NCI designation would expand clinical trials, research funding and specialty care locally. Dr. Racony said studies show care tied to NCI‑designated centers can improve survival by roughly 25 percent for some patient cohorts.
UMMC described a three‑part approach: (1) grow cancer‑specific research funding toward an annual $10M NIH/NCI‑eligible base (UMMC reported growth from ~$374K to about $2.6M in recent years), (2) expand clinical trials and recruiting of cancer physicians and research scientists, and (3) create a consolidated cancer center campus with multidisciplinary outpatient services under one roof.
The proposed facility is a roughly 250,000‑square‑foot outpatient cancer center, adjacent to UMMC on North State Street, with projected construction costs in the $250–300 million range. UMMC reported a $125 million philanthropic capital campaign (first gift $25M from the Black family), with $88M raised toward that goal; leadership said an additional state appropriation of $100M and $40M in federal funds are requested to reach the total. UMMC said remaining capital would come from clinical revenue and revenue bonds.
UMMC also presented an independent economic impact study prepared by Lightcast (formerly Emsi) that estimated the UMMC CCRI effort would add about $1.9 billion in personal income (GSP equivalent) to Mississippi’s economy over a 10‑year horizon (FY2023–FY2032), support roughly 2,800 jobs annually by 2032, and deliver recurring annual impacts once operations mature.
Legislators asked about site alternatives (for example, a surplus DPS property); UMMC said the chosen site is university‑owned and expedites construction and fundraising, though it would consider alternatives if they became available. Senators also asked how the proposed expansion interacts with CON (certificate‑of‑need) law and exemptions for educational health facilities; UMMC described the current exemption pathway it uses for facilities tied to clinical education and training.
What’s next: UMMC leaders asked the committee and appropriators to consider state capital funding in the coming session. Committee members expressed strong interest and asked UMMC to return with more detail on schedules, financing conditions and expected state outcomes.
