Roswell Park Cancer Institute - Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) (founded 1898) is a cancer research and treatment center in Buffalo, New York founded by Dr. Roswell Park. Candace S. Johnson, PhD, is President & CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute. RPCI was the first dedicated medical facility for cancer treatment and research in the United States, and is the only upstate New York facility to hold the National Cancer Institute designation of "comprehensive cancer center." The Institute, which conducts clinical research on cancer as well as developing new drugs, provides advanced treatment for all forms of adult and pediatric cancer and serves as a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

The RPCI campus, spread out in 15 separate buildings of approximately two million sq ft, occupies 28 acres (11Â ha) on the 100-acre (40Â ha) Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) in downtown Buffalo, and includes 1,500,000 square feet (140,000Â m²) of space equally distributed between clinical programs and research/education functions. A separate hospital building, completed in 1998, houses a diagnostic and treatment center. The campus also includes a medical research complex as well as research and education focused space.

History

In 1898, Roswell Park Cancer Institute was established by Dr. Roswell Park, who was a professor of surgery at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine. Dr. Park said that "Only through a deliberate well-planned, combined attack from various directions by means fitted for such work could real advances be made and further the relationship of laboratory work, clinical study and education must be closely associated."

Research started in three rooms in the University at Buffalo School of Medicine but not long thereafter, it outgrew the rooms. Seeing the importance of dedicated cancer research, select Buffalo citizens donated funds to purchase land and construct a new building. The largest contributor was Mrs. William Gratwick, (husband to the William H. Gratwick, the founder of the lumber firm of Gratwick, Smith & Fryer Lumber Co.) who donated $25,000. The Gratwick Research Laboratory of the University at Buffalo was constructed in 1901 and was located on High and Elm Streets in the city.

Dr. Park wrote books, gave lectures, and was the administrator at the cancer research center. In 1904, Dr. Park stepped down and Dr. Harvey R. Gaylord took over as the second director of the Institute. Dr. Park remained as the head chairman of the board of trustees.

Education annually:

343 clinical residents/oncology fellows
60 postdoctoral research fellows
105 predoctoral graduate students
64 master's students
28 high school and 32 college summer research students
30 exchange visitors - international research scholars

Centers of research

RPCIâ€™s centers include the Breast Service; Chemotherapy/Infusion; Dermatology, Soft Tissue Melanoma, Thoracic; Lower Gastrointestinal; Upper Gastrointestinal; Genito-Urology; Head & Neck; Dentistry and Maxillofacial Prosthetics; Pediatric; Gynecology and Hematology/Neurology/Pain. Supporting these centers are clinical resources that include Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine; Blood Bank/Plateletpheresis; Clinical Research Services; Community Cancer Resource Center; Diagnostic Imaging; Genetics Counseling/Testing; Infectious Disease Service; Nursing; Pain Medicine; Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; Patient Advocacy; Photodynamic Therapy; Psychosocial Support; Radiation Oncology; Rehabilitation (physical, occupational and speech therapy); and Therapeutics (experimental).

RPCI also offers specialized treatments, services and therapies including: High-dose Chemotherapy; Photodynamic Therapy; Gamma Knife; Follow-up Clinic for Long- term Survivors of Childhood Cancer; a Regional Center for Maxillofacial Prosthetics; the Buffalo-Niagara Prostate Cancer Consortium; Clinical Genetics Testing and Counseling; the Center for HIV-related Malignancies; Lymphedema Clinic; Balloon Kyphoplasty; Brain Mapping; Cancer Pain Management Service; High Risk Breast Clinic; Intraoperative MRI; Minimally Invasive Surgical Suite; Mohs Surgery; Robotic Surgery and Colorectal Cancer Risk Management Clinic.

Vital statistics

Statistics from fiscal year 2013

Accreditations/certifications

Affiliations/satellites and research partners

Spinoff companies and affiliates

International collaborations

Training and education

Stacey Scott Lung Cancer Registry

British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Historical facts

Previous names

State Pathological Laboratory of the University at Buffalo, 1898â€"1911
State Institute for the Study of Malignant Diseases, 1911â€"1946
Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI), 1946â€"1992

Historical firsts

Notable staff

Drs. Gerty and Carl Cori jointly won the 1947 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, "for their discovery of the course of the catalytic conversion of glycogen." Their research leading to the discovery began during their tenure at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (then called the New York State Institute for the Study of Malignant Diseases), from 1922-1931.
Thomas Dao (1921â€"2009), served as director of the breast surgery department from 1957 to 1988, where he developed breast cancer treatment alternatives.

Notes

Sources

National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Centers
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Member Profile
National Marrow Donor Program Overview
U.S. News & World Report Hospital Directory
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
We Are Roswell Park Institute Publication Version July 2008

References

"Gerty Cori - Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 24 Jul 2013. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1947/cori-gt-bio.html>
Legacy and History of Roswell Park Cancer Institute by Dr. Edwin Mirand
"About Roswell Park Cancer Institute". Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Kimaja Farwani.