Comprehensive Cancer Center Director: Craig B. Thompson, M.D. 16th Floor Penn Tower 3400 Spruce Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 Tel: (215) 662-6065 Fax: (215) 349-5325 Visit Website Clinical Trials at this Center

The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania is one of the leading NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Abramson Cancer Center was founded in 1973 and serves as the central body for planning, facilitating, and promoting cancer research, patient care, education, outreach and health information services for the University of Pennsylvania, including its School of Medicine and Health System. The Cancer Center includes 299 members representing 41 departments and eight schools who come together to create a highly interactive community that facilitates collaboration. Leading-edge cancer research, spanning basic, translational, clinical, and cancer control and population sciences research is stimulated through 11 disease specific (e.g., Breast, Melanoma, Hematologic Malignancies, Pediatric Cancers) and thematic-focused (e.g., Immunobiology, Tumor Biology, Tumor Virology, Radiation Biology, Cancer Control and Outcomes, Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Reduction) Research Programs, which are interdisciplinary and focused on pursuing intra- and interprogrammatic collaborations, and 14 Shared Resources that support innovative cancer research. The Cancer Center’s ability to develop and support strong interdisciplinary programs in cancer research is reflected in the steady growth of grant support (research and training) awarded to its members. Cancer Center members currently have research and training grant funding in the amount of $125 million in annual direct costs and $180 million in annual total costs. The Cancer Center ranks 5th nationally in NCI funding, and has been continuously funded by the NCI Centers' Program since 1974.

The research base is complemented by a comprehensive, nationally recognized clinical cancer service that provides a full range of medical and supportive services to patients with all kinds of cancer. In addition to serving the tri-state region of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, the Cancer Center serves as a leading cancer referral center for the eastern seaboard and beyond. This is reflected in the fact that Penn has the largest market share in the region, and is the dominant provider for multiple cancers, including urologic, lung, head and neck, GI, GYN, and hematologic malignancies/BMT. In light of the growth of the cancer clinical service, construction has started on a $247 million Center for Advanced Medicine, an ambulatory health care facility on the Penn health services campus. This facility will house all the ambulatory cancer programs of the Abramson Cancer Center, including disease specific clinics (e.g., breast and gynecologic cancer), as well as oncologic diagnostic testing and patient support services. A new radiation oncology department will be located in this building.