MU Health, St. Louis-based Siteman 'link' their efforts for cancer research in Missouri
Officials want a new partnership to boost cancer research that will improve outcomes for patients.
Researchers from University of Missouri Health Care's Ellis Fischel Cancer Center will team up with those from Siteman Cancer Center to jointly pursue competitively funded federal research grants and enhance efforts in cancer prevention.
Siteman, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Missouri. It performs research with the goal of developing new and improved methods of diagnosing, treating and preventing cancer.
Ellis Fischel is Missouri's only state-designated cancer center.
“The Siteman and Ellis Fischel cancer centers are dedicated to improving the health and wellness of Missourians by advancing the science that informs cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention,” Dr. Timothy Eberlein, Siteman director, said in a news release. “We can accelerate such efforts through the integration of our respective expertise in conducting clinical, translational, basic and population-based cancer research and training."
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The two institutions will accomplish more together than they can individually, said Dr. Richard Barohn, MU executive vice chancellor of health affairs and dean of the medical school.
“By linking these institutions, the combined research teams will maximize their distinct strengths and collaborate in new ways to create a bigger impact,” Barohn said in the release.
Each institution has advantages the other doesn't, said Dr. Gerhard Hildebrandt, Ellis Fischel director, speaking with reporters Wednesday afternoon via Zoom.
"Both Siteman and Ellis Fischel have strengths we hope to leverage on both sides," Hildebrandt said.
For example, Siteman has cutting-edge technology and research capabilities, Hildebrandt said. MU benefits from the MU Research Reactor, the ability to test treatments at the veterinary school, and resources at its new NextGen center, with its powerful electron microscope.
The vet school will provide access to testing treatments in large animals, he said.
Ellis Fischel also will soon offer bone marrow transplants, Hildebrandt said.
The partnership hopes to bring cancer prevention efforts throughout the state, using the resources of MU Extension, Hildebrandt said.
It may include mobile mammography units, he said.
The two institutions have been talking about the collaboration for "awhile," he said.
The partnership will help with clinical trials and recruiting patients for the trials, Hildebrandt said.
"This is, I would say, a project in its beginning, with a very strong future and a lot of work," Hildebrandt said.
Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Ellis Fischel Cancer Center partners with Siteman Cancer Center
