The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (colloquially MD Anderson Cancer Center) is a comprehensive

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

center and

autonomous university Autonomous university typically refers to a university that exercises a high degree of autonomy from the state. The main dimensions of university autonomy are academic, organizational, financial and staffing autonomy. The 1988 Magna Charta Univer ...

of the

University of Texas System The University of Texas System (UT System) is a public university system in the U.S. state of Texas. It includes nine universities and five independent health institutions. The UT System is headquartered in Downtown Austin. It is the large ...

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

, Texas. It is the largest cancer center in the world and one of the original three NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country. It is both a degree-granting academic institution and a cancer treatment and research center located within the

Texas Medical Center The Texas Medical Center (TMC) is a List of neighborhoods in Houston, neighborhood in south-central Houston, Texas, United States. It is immediately south of the Houston Museum District, Museum District and west of Texas State Highway 288. Over 6 ...

, the largest medical center and

life sciences This list of life sciences comprises the branches of science that involve the scientific study of life – such as microorganisms, plants, and animals including human beings. This science is one of the two major branches of natural science, ...

destination in the world. MD Anderson Cancer Center has consistently ranked #1 among the best hospitals for cancer care and research in the U.S. and worldwide, and it has held the #1 position 20 times in the last 23 years in ''U.S. News & World Report's'' Best Hospitals rankings for cancer care. As of 2023, MD Anderson Cancer Center is home to the highest number of cancer clinical trials in the world and has received more NCI-funded projects than any other U.S. institute.https://www.mdanderson.org/documents/about-md-anderson/about-us/facts-and-history/quick-facts.pdf For 2024, ''

Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly news magazine based in New York City. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely distributed during the 20th century and has had many notable editors-in-chief. It is currently co-owned by Dev P ...

'' placed MD Anderson at #1 in their annual list of the ''World's Best Specialized Hospitals'' in

oncology Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an ''oncologist''. The name's Etymology, etymological origin is the Greek word ὄγ ...

History

The cancer center is named after Monroe Dunaway Anderson, who feared that in the event of one of the partners' deaths, his cotton trading company would lose a large amount of money to

estate tax International tax law distinguishes between an estate tax and an inheritance tax. An inheritance tax is a tax paid by a person who inherits money or property of a person who has died, whereas an estate tax is a levy on the estate (money and pr ...

and be forced to dissolve. To avoid this, Anderson created the MD Anderson Foundation with an initial sum of $300,000. In 1939, after Anderson's death, the foundation received $19 million. In 1941, the

Texas Legislature The Texas State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a p ...

had appropriated $500,000 to build a cancer hospital and research center. The Anderson Foundation agreed to match funds with the state if the hospital were located in Houston in the Texas Medical Center (another project of the Anderson Foundation) and named after Anderson. Since 1945 the

was formed largely due to the efforts of the M.D. Anderson Foundation, which provided significant financial support and land. This initiative, coupled with the establishment of the M.D. Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research, laid the groundwork for what would become the largest medical center in the world. Using surplus World War II Army barracks, the hospital operated for 10 years from a converted residence and 46 beds leased in a Houston hospital before moving to its current location in

in 1954. This move allowed for significant expansion and the development of state-of-the-art facilities. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the center continued to expand its research capabilities and patient care services. In 2015, the university was placed on a censure list issued by the

American Association of University Professors The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States that was founded in 1915 in New York City and is currently headquartered in Washington, D.C. AAUP membership inc ...

for denying tenure to two professors. As part of the investigative process, the university questioned the AAUP's credentials and their ability to adjudicate tenure disputes.

Organization

Status

MD Anderson Cancer Center is part of The University of Texas System, and is managed as a non-profit. However, it also has for-profit agreements.

Education & training

MD Anderson enjoys independent university status within

by providing postdoctoral fellowships,

medical intern A medical (or surgical) intern is a physician in training who has completed medical school and has a medical degree, but does not yet have a license to practice medicine unsupervised. Medical education generally ends with a period of practical tr ...

ship, and residency. These programs are designed for Ph.D., M.D., or M.D./Ph.D holders and medical professionals in basic & translational sciences and clinical practice, aiming to train the next generation of scientists and medical professionals in cancer care and research. MD Anderson offers a vast number of medical residency and fellowship programs across a comprehensive range of specialties in cancer treatment, diagnostics, and complex surgery. The institution offers M.S., Ph.D.s and dual M.D./Ph.D. degrees to students enrolled in The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, which it operates with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Areas of study include biochemistry and cell biology, cancer biology, genetics and epigenetics, immunology, medical physics, microbiology and infectious diseases, neuroscience, quantitative sciences, and therapeutics and pharmacology. Additionally, the institution offers bachelor's and master's degrees to students enrolled in The UT MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions. Areas of study include clinical laboratory science, cytogenetic technology, cytotechnology, diagnostic imaging, diagnostic medical sonography, healthcare disparities, diversity and advocacy, histotechnology, medical dosimetry, molecular genetic technology, diagnostic genetics, radiological sciences and radiation therapy.

Recognition

In addition to its No. 1 ranking in cancer care by '' U.S. News & World Report'', the cancer center ranks first in the number of

National Cancer Institute The National Cancer Institute (NCI) coordinates the United States National Cancer Program and is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is one of eleven agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ...

grants and invested $1.2 billion in research in FY 2023. The cancer center also has received Magnet Nursing recognition from the

American Nurses Credentialing Center The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), is a certification body for nursing board certification and the largest certification body for advanced practice registered nurses in the Un ...

. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has consistently ranked as the world's #1 hospital in

care and research. In 2024, ''Asbestos.com'' reported MD Anderson as #1 among the ''10 Most High-Tech Cancer Hospitals in America''. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has been ranked #1 in

care by '' U.S. News & World Report'' for the 2024-2025 period. This ranking marks the tenth consecutive year that MD Anderson has achieved the top position, maintaining its leading status since 2014. In May 1996, the

Pan American Health Organization The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) in charge of international health cooperation in the Americas. It fosters technical cooperation among member countries to fight communicable and non ...

(PAHO/WHO) established the Collaborating Center for Supportive Cancer Care at the Pain Research Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The terms of reference engage the MD Anderson Center in the development of palliative care programs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Presidents

MD Anderson has had five full-time presidents in its history: * R. Lee Clark, M.D. (1946–1978) * Charles LeMaistre, M.D. (1978–1996) * John Mendelsohn, M.D. (1996–2011) * Ronald DePinho, M.D. (2011–2017) *Peter W. T. Pisters, M.D. (2017–present)

Locations and campuses

Texas Medical Center (TMC) in Houston, Texas

MD Anderson Cancer Center is located at the

, a ''"Medical Mini-City"'' in

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

.Locations
" University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Retrieved on April 4, 2010. The

is the largest medical center and life sciences hub in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and

translational research Translational research (also called translation research, translational science, or, when the context is clear, simply translation) is research aimed at translating (converting) results in basic research into results that directly benefit humans ...

The MD Anderson campus is divided into the North Campus, Mid Campus and South Campus. The North Campus includes: The Main Building, which comprises Alkek Hospital,MD Anderson to Expand 12-Story Alkek Hospital
" Bates-Freeman Building, Clark Clinic, Gimbel Building, Jones Research Building, LeMaistre Clinic, Love Clinic and Lutheran Hospital Pavilion. Other facilities on this campus are the Dan L. Duncan Building, Clinical Research Building, Faculty Center, Mays Clinic, Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building, Pickens Academic Tower, Radiology Outpatient Center and Rotary House International. The T. Boone Pickens Academic Tower, a 21-story, building, which opened in 2008, is named after T. Boone Pickens, who donated to the cancer center. It houses classrooms, conference facilities, and executive and faculty offices. The South Campus is home to the McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer,McCombs Institute
which includes seven translational research centers focused on

genomics Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of molecular biology focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. A genome is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes as well as its hierarchical, ...

proteomics Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins. Proteins are vital macromolecules of all living organisms, with many functions such as the formation of structural fibers of muscle tissue, enzymatic digestion of food, or synthesis and replicatio ...

, screening,

diagnostic imaging Medical imaging is the technique and process of imaging the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention, as well as visual representation of the function of some organs or tissues (physiology). Medical imaging seeks to revea ...

and drug development. The Mid Campus building, a 25-story building to support current office space and future growth needs, opened in 2011. The MD Anderson Cancer Center's Houston campus houses multiple specialized institutes that enhance its comprehensive approach to cancer care. These include the James P. Allison Institute, dedicated to advancing immunotherapy; the Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment, focusing on cancer prevention and risk analysis; the Institute for Applied Cancer Science, which drives the translation of scientific discoveries into new therapies; the Institute for Cancer Care Innovation, aimed at improving cancer care delivery and outcomes; the Institute for Data Science in Oncology, leveraging big data for cancer research; and the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, which tailors treatments to individual patients based on genetic and molecular profiling. In 2023, MD Anderson Cancer Center broke ground on a new 600,000-square-foot facility in the Helix Park of the Texas Medical Center (TMC) to serve as the centerpiece of the institution’s large south campus research park. This building will house several of MD Anderson's strategic research programs, including the newly established James P. Allison Institute. The TMC3 Collaborative Building in the Helix Park will also host commercial life sciences companies, industry leaders, and TMC Venture Fund. MD Anderson Cancer Center is one of the four founding institutions of the Helix Park campus of Texas Medical Center (TMC). At the TMC Helix Park campus, healthcare professionals, academics, and business leaders collaborate to develop new medicines, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health platforms, and treatment solutions. This accelerates the discovery and delivery of life-changing advancements. The TMC3 Helix Park hotel provides accommodations for life science researchers, industry executives, and venture capitalists, contributing to Houston's ambition to become a global leader in life sciences and human health. TMC Helix Park aims to make a $5.4 billion economic impact.

MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital

MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital is the pediatric unit of the MD Anderson Cancer Center system. The hospital treats infants, children, teens, and young adults even up to age 29 through their AYA cancer program. MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital is located on the 9th floor of the main building at the

campus.

MD Anderson Cancer Center Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy

In 2011, the President of the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...

donated $150 million to MD Anderson Cancer Center. The donation was to start The MD Anderson Cancer Center Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy. This gift was in honor of the UAE president's father,

Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (; 6 May 1918 – 2 November 2004) was an Emirati royal, politician, philanthropist and the founder of the United Arab Emirates. Zayed served as the governor of Eastern Region from 1946 until he became ...

, who led the UAE for over thirty years until his death in 2004. The institute focuses on research and clinical trials where doctors use a patient’s tumor biopsy to find abnormal genes. They then choose treatments that target those specific genes to fight cancer. The MD Anderson Zayed Building for Personalized Cancer Care is located on the MD Anderson Cancer Center campus in

. The MD Anderson Cancer Center also includes the Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy and the Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Emiratis can benefit from the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation’s scholarship program to pursue fellowships, residency programs, postgraduate studies, and observerships at the center. Khalifa Scholars are chosen from faculty-level physicians and researchers at MD Anderson. They receive financial support equivalent to one to two years’ salary to help with their independent research projects. The Zayed Building received 2016 R&D Magazine Lab of the Year Award.

James P. Allison Institute at MD Anderson Cancer Center

The James P. Allison Institute was established after its namesake, Nobel laureate James P. Allison, Professor and Chair of Immunology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Allison was awarded the 2018

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine () is awarded yearly by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute for outstanding discoveries in physiology or medicine. The Nobel Prize is not a single prize, but five separate prizes that, acco ...

jointly with

Tasuku Honjo is a Japanese physician-scientist and immunologist. He won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and is best known for his identification of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). He is also known for his molecular identification of c ...

"for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation". The institute was established to unlock the full potential of cancer immunotherapy. It is located within the south campus of MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Helix Park area of the

. Timken Foundation has made a $5 million commitment to support the James P. Allison Institute at MD Anderson.

Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing at MD Anderson Cancer Center

This first-of-its-kind institute in the U.S. is dedicated to enhancing oncology

nursing Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alle ...

care and research, aiming to significantly improve patient outcomes through specialized education, training, and innovative research initiatives. Howard Meyers donated $25 million to establish the Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing at MD Anderson Cancer Center,

Other locations in greater Houston metropolitan area

MD Anderson operates several other locations within the Greater Houston, Texas area. They include: *MD Anderson League City, on the University of Texas Medical Branch League City campus. Specialties include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, dermatology and skin cancer, endocrine cancer, genitourinary cancer, gynecologic cancer, head and neck cancer, neurologic cancer, and thoracic cancer. *MD Anderson

Sugar Land Sugar Land (sometimes incorrectly spelled as Sugarland) is the largest city in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States, located in the southwestern part of the metropolitan area. Located about southwest of downtown Houston, Sugar Land is a po ...

, on the campus of St. Luke's Sugar Land Hospital. Specialties include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, dermatology and skin cancer, endocrine cancer, thoracic cancer, neurologic cancer, genitourinary cancer, and gynecologic cancer. *MD Anderson West Houston. Specialties include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, dermatology and skin cancer, endocrine cancer, head and neck cancer, thoracic cancer, neurologic cancer, genitourinary cancer, gynecologic cancer, and urology. *MD Anderson The Woodlands, on the campus of St. Luke's The Woodlands Hospital. Specialties include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, dermatology and skin cancer, endocrine cancer, head and neck cancer, thoracic cancer, neurologic cancer, genitourinary cancer, and gynecologic cancer. *MD Anderson Surgical Clinic Memorial City, on the campus of Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center. This location offers surgical consultation for many types of cancer. It has special expertise in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of breast cancer, gynecologic cancer, thoracic cancer, head and neck cancer, urologic cancer, neurologic cancer, and plastic surgery and reconstruction. *MD Anderson Gynecologic Oncology Clinic in the

, on the campus of The Woman's Hospital of Texas. This facility specializes in gynecological cancers and treats cervical cancer, fallopian tube cancer, uterine (endometrial) cancer, vaginal cancer, ovarian cancer, vulvar cancer, gynecologic sarcomas, gestational trophoblastic disease, pre-invasive diseases of the lower genital tract, and primary peritoneal cancer. *In September 2018, in collaboration with The University of Texas Medical Branch, the MD Anderson Bay Area location moved to a newly built facility in League City, Texas.

Expansion to Austin, Texas

On August 14, 2023, the University of Texas System announced its plan to build a new MD Anderson Cancer Center in Austin, Texas, on the current site of the

Frank Erwin Center The Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center (originally Special Events Center) was a multi-purpose arena located on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. It was also sometimes referred to as "The Drum" or "The Superdrum", owing to ...

adjacent to the

University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public university, public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 stud ...

campus. The new center will collaborate with a new UT Austin teaching hospital that will also be built nearby. The demolition of the Erwin Center is scheduled to be completed in 2024, and the groundbreakings for the new hospitals are projected to commence in 2026.

Other locations outside Texas in U.S.

Several hospitals and institutions outside of Texas are part of the MD Anderson Cancer Network. These independently operated facilities follow MD Anderson treatment plans and standards of care. The network includes: *The MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital is located in the Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital in

Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

. * Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, a city in the

Greater Phoenix The Phoenix metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun, the Salt River Valley, metro Phoenix, or The Valley, is the largest metropolitan statistical area in the Southwestern United States, with its largest principal city being the ...

area of

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

, opened in September 2011. *MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, located in Camden,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, opened in October 2013. * Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center in

Jacksonville Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, opened in October 2015. * AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Cancer Center in

Merriam Merriam can refer to: People * Alan P. Merriam (1923–1980), American ethnomusicologist * Charles Edward Merriam (1874–1953), American political scientist *Charles W. Merriam (1877–1961), American insurance businessman and politician * Clinton ...

Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...

joined in 2017. *Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at North Colorado Medical Center in

Greeley, Colorado Greeley is the home rule municipality city that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Weld County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 108,795 at the 2020 United States census, an increase of 17.12% since the ...

, opened 2018.

Expansion to Madrid, Spain

In 2000, MD Anderson Cancer Center,

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

started operating as the first global branch of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,

. MD Anderson Madrid is currently a Center of Excellence for the treatment of cancer in

and

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

and one of the most productive institutions in Spain for cancer research. The MD Anderson Cancer Center Spain Foundation Excellence Training Program develops talented non-healthcare researchers in Spain through collaborations with top institutions, aiming to enhance their academic and research careers. It targets postdoctoral researchers in biomedical sciences, offering opportunities for research and teaching.

Expansion to Istanbul, Turkey

The MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center in Istanbul at American Hospital is located in the Vehbi Koc Foundation (VKF) American Hospital in

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

Sister institutions

MD Anderson has formed sister institution relationships with more than 25 organizations in Asia, Europe, Central America and South America through its Global Academic Programs department. Collaborations focus on research, prevention, education and patient care. *The collaboration between the MD Anderson Cancer Center in

and Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) in

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

is a significant partnership aimed at enhancing cancer research, education, and clinical care. Established in 2003, this sister institution accord was facilitated by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston. The partnership focuses on multiple areas, including physician education and training, clinical services, research collaboration, quality assurance programs, faculty exchange visits, and nursing and technical staff training. *In 2014,

Nita Ambani Nita Mukesh Ambani (''née'' Dalal, born 1 November 1963) is an Indian businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the chairperson and founder of the Reliance Foundation, Dhirubhai Ambani International School and a director of Reliance Industries ...

, founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation became first Indian businessperson to join the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors (BOV). MD Anderson experts have been working with Reliance Foundation to guide the development of a multidisciplinary cancer center at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital in

. *In 2023, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center revealed plans to expand its global oncology initiatives in

Mozambique Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...

and

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

. This includes a new four-year partnership aimed at enhancing cancer prevention and treatment in collaboration with Mozambique's Ministry of Health. Additionally, MD Anderson received a $5.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support cervical cancer prevention and treatment for women living with HIV.

MD Anderson Cancer Center Africa Initiative

The MD Anderson Cancer Center's

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

Initiative, part of its Global Oncology Program launched in September 2022, aims to reduce the cancer burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through comprehensive education, training, and collaborative research. One of the flagship projects under this initiative is Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), which employs case-based learning and videoconferencing to enhance the skills of healthcare providers in LMICs, particularly in cancer prevention, control, and treatment. Additionally, the Palliative Care in Africa (PACA) initiative connects regional experts and providers across several African nations like

Ghana Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is situated along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and shares borders with Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to t ...

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

Zambia Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa. It is typically referred to being in South-Central Africa or Southern Africa. It is bor ...

to improve palliative care for advanced cancer patients through regular teleconferences and training sessions. This initiative underscores MD Anderson's commitment to global health by fostering international collaborations and supporting capacity building in regions with limited resources.

Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO)

In 2022, MD Anderson Cancer Center and the

World Health Organization (WHO) The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has 6 regional offices and 15 ...

have launched a new international collaboration aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of women's cancers globally. This initiative focuses on enhancing prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies to improve women's health outcomes worldwide.

Major achievements and scientific breakthroughs

Since 1944, MD Anderson Cancer Center has provided cancer care to over 1.2 million individuals. The institution has made significant global impact by translating research discoveries into life-saving treatments. Through its Moon Shots Program™, MD Anderson accelerates the transformation of breakthroughs into clinical advancements. Here are some notable achievements over the past 75 years. * 1949: Development of the Cobalt-60 Unit for Radiation Therapy English physicist Leonard Grimmett and French-born physician Gilbert Fletcher at MD Anderson design a revolutionary cobalt-60 unit, transforming radiation therapy. * 1958: Invention of the Continuous-Flow Blood Cell Separator Emil J. Freireich, M.D., pioneers the continuous-flow blood cell separator, enhancing blood transfusion processes and advancing oncology treatments. * 1964: Introduction of Chemotherapy for Wilms' Tumor Wataru Sutow, M.D., achieves significant improvement in survival rates for children with Wilms' tumor through groundbreaking chemotherapy. * 1968: Establishment of the Radiological Physics Center MD Anderson becomes the hub for uniform radiation dosimetry in cancer clinical trials, pioneering standardized radiation physics. * 1976: Validation of Lumpectomy with Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer MD Anderson demonstrates the efficacy of lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy, establishing a global standard in breast cancer treatment. * 1978: Collaboration for Blood Component Therapy MD Anderson partnered with

IBM International Business Machines Corporation (using the trademark IBM), nicknamed Big Blue, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational technology company headquartered in Armonk, New York, and present in over 175 countries. It is ...

to develop a simplified blood cell separator, revolutionizing blood component therapy accessibility and transforming its availability and use throughout the U.S. * 1981: Installation of the First Medical Cyclotron in the U.S. MD Anderson installs the nation's first medical cyclotron with funding from the National Cancer Institute, advancing cancer treatment technology. * 1985: Development of Liposomal-Encapsulated Antifungal Therapy Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, M.D., pioneers liposomal-encapsulated antifungal agents, transforming treatment options for immunocompromised cancer patients. * 1988: Introduction of Electron Beam Radiotherapy in Surgery MD Anderson opens the first operating room with a linear accelerator for electron beam radiotherapy, enhancing surgical cancer treatment. * 1994: Invention of Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Scientists at MD Anderson develop IMRT, a precise radiation therapy technique conforming doses to tumor shapes in three dimensions. * 2005: Pioneering Pencil Beam Scanning in Proton Therapy MD Anderson introduces pencil beam scanning in its proton therapy facility, enhancing precision and sparing healthy tissue in cancer treatment. * 2006: FDA Approval of Dasatinib and Nilotinib for Resistant Leukemia MD Anderson researchers demonstrate the efficacy of dasatinib and nilotinib, leading to FDA approval for Gleevec-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia. * 2009: Development of 3-BrOP for Neuroblastoma Treatment An experimental drug, 3-BrOP, developed at MD Anderson, shows promising results in starving neuroblastoma cells and other cancers. * 2012: Launch of MD Anderson Moon Shots Program® MD Anderson launches the ''Moon Shots Program®'' in 2012, a bold initiative aimed at accelerating the pace of converting scientific discoveries into clinical advances that significantly impact patient care. The program focuses on tackling cancer by uniting multidisciplinary teams of researchers, clinicians, and industry partners to pursue innovative approaches. Each "moon shot" aims to address specific cancer types or challenges, utilizing cutting-edge technologies and collaborative efforts to achieve ambitious goals in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Through this initiative, MD Anderson continues to lead the way in advancing cancer research and translating findings into practical solutions for patients worldwide. In 2013, Lyda Hill pledged $50 million to Moon Shots Program. * 2013: Development of Oncolytic Adenovirus Therapy for Brain Tumors Juan Fueyo, M.D., and Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, M.D., create an experimental therapy using adenovirus to target and treat brain tumors. * 2018: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for Immune Checkpoint Therapy James P. Allison, professor and chair of immunology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston receives the

with

for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation, leading to the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

MD Anderson Services Corporation

MD Anderson Services Corporation (formerly MD Anderson Cancer Center Outreach Corporation) was established in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to enhance revenues of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center by establishing joint ventures in selected markets, providing additional referrals to the institution, contracting for delivery of inpatient and out-patient management, using existing UT MD Anderson Cancer Center reference laboratory services, and fostering additional philanthropy in distant areas.

Accommodation for patients

The Jesse H. Jones Rotary House International is a full-service hotel entirely owned by the MD Anderson Cancer Center and managed by

Marriott International Marriott International, Inc. is an American multinational corporation, multinational company that operates, franchises, and licenses lodging brands that include hotel, residential, and timeshare properties. Marriott International owns over 37 ho ...

. This hotel is specifically dedicated to serving the needs of MD Anderson patients and their families during their stay in

. Additionally, there are numerous other hotels within walking distance of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, located on the Texas Medical Center (TMC) campus. These hotels are operated by various multinational hospitality companies, including Marriott, DoubleTree by Hilton,

Westin Westin Hotels & Resorts is an American upscale hotel chain owned by Marriott International. , the Westin Brand has 226 properties with 82,608 rooms in multiple countries in addition to 58 hotels with 15,741 rooms in the pipeline. History Wes ...

Hyatt Hyatt Hotels Corporation, commonly known as Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, is an American multinational corporation, multinational hospitality company headquartered in the 150 North Riverside, Riverside Plaza area of Chicago that manages and franchise ...

, among others.

Children's Art Project at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Children's Art Project at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is an initiative that enables paediatric cancer patients to express their creativity through art. Since its inception in 1973, the program has transformed artworks created by young patients into products such as greeting cards, apparel, and home décor. These items are sold to support patient-focused programs, cancer research, and patient care initiatives at MD Anderson. The project provides a therapeutic outlet for children and helps raise funds to benefit the cancer center.

References

{{authority control Cancer hospitals Cancer research organizations Hospital buildings completed in 1954 Institutions in the Texas Medical Center NCI-designated cancer centers Teaching hospitals in Texas Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools University of Texas System campuses