By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Roswell Park Cancer Institute reports it has received one of the nation's most prestigious forms of recognition.
Roswell Park had a very important announcement Thursday and a number of VIP's helped create excitement.
Before a packed house inside a research auditorium at Roswell, a video was played.
It featured a number of local celebrities, politicians, and citizens, all asking Roswell's president and chief executive officer, Doctor David Hohn, one question - did he get it?
And with Governor George Pataki standing by his side, Doctor Hohn ended the anticipation and opened a letter from the National Cancer Institute.
"Please be assured that the National Cancer Institute is funding the Cancer Center Support grant submitted by Roswell Park Cancer Institute for the full five years requested," read Hohn.
Hohn said the five year grant is the maximum a comprehensive cancer center may receive.
That is a big accomplishment for Roswell because just three years ago it was at risk losing the designation.
Hohn said the grant allows Roswell to maintain a high level of quality in science and patient care.
"It helps us to recruit patients who are looking for that label of excellence. It helps us, most importantly of all, to recruit faculty," said Hohn. "Faculty that are looking to work in a collaborative creative center that puts clinical work and science together without boundaries. I think people are looking for that."
Hohn said they expect a "significant" increase in the funding the Nation grant provides.
"Which in recent years has been under one million dollars a year. The exact amount can not be released because of the continuing budget resolutions in Congress," said Hohn.
Hohn said without the grant the Institute would have a major impact to its overall image.
But now Roswell Park is among only 39 centers in the U.S. with full National Cancer Institute designation - and the only one in Upstate New York.