KHAS Weather
UNMC cancer center moves closer to realization
Nebraska took one small step closer to the future of the Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The UNL Board of Regents met Thursday to discuss the program statement for the center.
The Regents voted unanimously 8 to 0 to approve the program statement for the Cancer Research tower. The research tower is the building that will house the research labs, for treatment and prevention of cancer. While it's not built yet, the excitement for the new center is in the air. "This will be a very exciting development in Nebraska and benefit families across the state who have family members who suffer from this terrible disease," said University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken. "This was part of the building Healthier Nebraska Initiative which was to recognize the importance of health care in the state of Nebraska if we're going to grow the state's economy," said Board of Regents Vice Chair Tim Clare. Thursday the board of regents approved the program statement for the Cancer Research tower. "It is the building which will house the research laboratories for our research scientists, who then will support the treatment and prevention of cancer and the work that will be done in the overall cancer center," said Milliken. The $110 million research center is part of the larger cancer center project, with $50 million in state funds and $60 million in private funds. "It'll benefit the University but more importantly it'll benefit the rest of the country in terms of cancer research, cancer treatment and, hopefully, one day be able to find a cure for cancer," said Clare. The Center is expected to create around 1200 jobs by 2020 and bring in around $100 million in payroll. "This will be a very exciting development in Nebraska and benefit families across the state who have family members who suffer from this terrible disease," said Milliken. So what's the next step after this meeting? "Well, there's ongoing working, going on now we'll get to the design overall of the entire cancer center. Work going on to plan this project. Additional private fund raising will take place." But the research won't only benefit the Cornhusker State. "What's exciting about it is the fact that the state recognizes the importance of health care and the state recognizes that not only is this health care that's going to benefit the state but it's health care that's going to benefit the country," Clare said. The next step for the Cancer Center is fund raising efforts, as well as design approval. Construction of the site is supposed to begin August 2013 and the project could be completed by April 2016. |
On Demand
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Local Gas Prices
Most Popular
KHASTV LinksKHASTV on FacebookWeather Closings |
Most Popular