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Cancer patients, community leaders, donors, students, doctors, scientists, and other advocates attended a hearing before the Utah State Legislature where the plan to build a cancer research center in Vineyard was discussed (Jan 29, 2024).
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) received $75 million from the Utah Legislature toward a cancer research and academic building in Utah County. This building is part of the first phase of Huntsman Cancer Institute’s plan to establish a second comprehensive cancer center in Utah, bringing cancer research and care closer to the communities we serve.
Following the June 2023 announcement of a $75 million lead matching gift from the Huntsman Foundation, the project plans have steadily advanced. Earlier this year, a 20-acre land donation from Flagship Companies and Woodbury Corporation was announced. New student training and research opportunities with Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University have already moved forward and other significant philanthropic support and programmatic investments have been secured.
“We will look back on this project over future generations and thank you for lives that have been lengthened, the lives that have been saved, and the opportunity that this has given the state of Utah.“
— Peter Huntsman, chairman and CEO of Huntsman Cancer Foundation
“Our vision is to deliver a cancer-free frontier, and we believe that work begins right here in Utah,” explains Mary Beckerle, PhD, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute and distinguished professor of biology at the U. “The opportunities presented by a second campus in Utah will allow us to make a major impact in research, training the healthcare workforce of the future, and bringing our science-powered cancer care closer to the communities we serve throughout the entire state.”
Huntsman Cancer Institute's state-of-the-art Vineyard campus will be built on this land just north of Utah City in Utah County.
Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah, expressed his support for the funding request. “This is a remarkable project that we believe promises to help deliver hope to people impacted by cancer in the state of Utah. It will help us further cement Utah’s role as a world leader in cancer research innovations that save lives and enhance livelihoods.”
Throughout the 2024 legislative session, Huntsman Cancer Institute was honored to receive broad support from the community including patients, scientists, medical doctors, and students, as well as academic leaders from Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University.
“Our vision is to deliver a cancer-free frontier, and we believe that work begins right here in Utah.”
— Mary Beckerle, PhD, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute
While addressing legislators at a hearing on the plan, Peter Huntsman, chairman and CEO of Huntsman Cancer Foundation, said, “We assure you, we will look back on this project over future generations and thank you for lives that have been lengthened, the lives that have been saved, and the opportunity that this has given the state of Utah.”
Huntsman Cancer Institute plans to break ground on the research center in Vineyard in late 2024.
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Huntsman Cancer Institute
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About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering a cancer-free frontier to all communities in the area we serve. We have more than 300 open clinical trials and 250 research teams studying cancer at any given time. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient’s unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.