NCI Designated Cancer Centers

National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer centers are at the forefront of NCI-supported efforts at universities and cancer research centers across the United States that are developing and translating scientific knowledge from promising laboratory discoveries into new treatments for cancer patients.

What Types of Designation Are Awarded?

There are two types of NCI-designated cancer centers.

--An NCI-designated cancer center must demonstrate scientific leadership, resources, and capabilities in laboratory, clinical, or population science, or some combination of these three components. It must also demonstrate reasonable depth and breadth of research in the scientific areas it chooses and transdisciplinary research across these areas.

--An NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center must demonstrate reasonable depth and breadth of research in each of three major areas: laboratory, clinical, and population-based research, as well as substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas. In addition, a comprehensive center must also demonstrate professional and public education and outreach capabilities, including the dissemination of clinical and public health advances in the communities it serves.

Of the 71 NCI-designated cancer centers, 51 are comprehensive cancer centers (January, 2022).

Our list does not include those cancer centers which only do research. Click here for NCI Designated Cancer Center web site.