AS THE FIRST FACILITY OF ITS KIND IN HAWAIʻI , THE CENTER WILL OFFER HOPE FOR HAWAIʻI RESIDENTS BATTLING ADVANCED
CANCERS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN EARLY PHASE CLINICAL TRIALS WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE THE STATE . THIS GREATLY REDUCES THE FINANCIAL , PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HARDSHIPS OF HAVING TO TRAVEL TO THE MAINLAND FOR TREATMENT THAT MAY BE THEIR LAST HOPE .”
– HAWAI ‘ I STATE SENATOR , BREENE HARIMOTO
“ We are extremely grateful to the state Legislature and the National Institutes of Health for recognizing the need of this program and the exceptional value it will provide for the people of Hawaiʻi ,” said UH Cancer Center Director Randall Holcombe , MD , MBA . “ It will be a statewide resource to enable advances in cancer treatment that are of particular importance to our diverse population .”
Approximately 6,700 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Hawaiʻi . The research center will serve an estimated 100 to 200 patients annually who would have otherwise had to travel out of state for treatment .
The development of a program , and recruitment of the faculty physicians , nurses and pharmacists , is a joint venture of the UH Cancer Center , the University of Hawaiʻi and clinical partners in the Hawaiʻi Cancer Consortium — Hawaiʻi Pacific Health , Kuakini Medical Center and The Queen ’ s Medical Center .
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