The University of Mississippi Medical Center has been awarded a $2.4 million federal grant to renovate and modernize its cancer research facilities, UMMC announced. The funding comes from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The grant is a key step toward UMMC’s goal of obtaining National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation. Mississippi, along with Louisiana and Arkansas, currently lacks an NCI-designated cancer center, prompting many patients to travel out of state for advanced care.
Support for the funding came from U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Rep. Michael Guest, both Republicans serving on their chambers’ appropriations committees. Guest said UMMC has been a leader in medicine since hosting the first heart transplant in 1964 and is now taking a critical step toward NCI recognition.
Funding will be used to upgrade 14,000 square feet of research space, which has not seen significant improvements in nearly 30 years. The renovations will include new equipment and infrastructure enhancements, according to UMMC.
Hyde-Smith expressed her support, stating that the upgrades will help attract more cancer researchers to Mississippi. Both officials emphasized that the improvements are part of broader efforts to enhance cancer research and health outcomes in the state.
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, approximately 16,000 new cancer cases are reported annually in Mississippi, with about 6,500 deaths each year.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
