Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah has officially opened its Primary Children's and Families' Cancer Research Center dedicated to advancing cancer research. It also marks the fourth phase in a massive overall construction project for the system, Huntsman Cancer Institute announced Wednesday.
Jon M. Huntsman also announced a $120 million commitment from the Huntsman family and Huntsman Cancer Foundation to HCI.
The 225,000 square-foot expansion doubles HCI's research capacity, and was designed with research team collaboration in mind, with a 120-seat auditorium, 30,000 square feet of space unifying the cancer population sciences research faculty, and public meetings spaces on each floor. The Research Center also includes a biotechnology center with the latest advanced genetic sequencing and imaging equipment as well as other unique resources and technologies like cancer biostatistics, genetic counseling, genomics and bioinformatics analysis, research informatics, and the Utah Population Database. With the addition, HCI will have one mile of laboratory bench space, the system said.
[Also: Updated list of hospital contruction and expansion projects in 2016]
HCI founders the Jon M. and Karen Huntsman family, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Intermountain Healthcare, and the State of Utah provided the major support for the $173 million project, including financing costs However, more than one million individual donors have supported Huntsman Cancer Institute, the system said.
Philanthropist and cancer survivor Jon Huntsman said, ""From the very beginning, our goal has been to build an unrivaled cancer treatment and research campus that is at the forefront of scientific discovery. With this expansion, we're one step closer to realizing our vision to eradicate cancer from the face of the earth."
HCI serves patients from its home state of Utah as well as Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.
Twitter: @BethJSanborn