SIU Cancer Institute Moving Ahead with Building, Research Developments

Progress on developing the SIU Cancer Institute in Springfield is gaining momentum with a decision on the location for the facility and expansion underway in research efforts.

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is finalizing purchase this month of 15 individual parcels of land, located together on a partial city block bound by Carpenter, Rutledge and Miller Streets. The medical school and Capital Development Board are purchasing property from five local owners, totaling two-plus acres (101,186 square feet). The estimate for the final cost to purchase all of the properties is approximately $2 million.

"It is tremendously exciting for us to be able to move forward in the development of this special place for people with cancer," says Dr. K. Thomas Robbins, interim director of the institute. "Our research efforts are gaining strength and we are moving ahead with several important recruitments. Now with a site, planning this multi-purpose building can proceed."

The SIU Cancer Institute is focusing the medical school's efforts in cancer research, physician and public education, and treatment for patients from across central and southern Illinois. More than 50 SIU physician and basic science faculty are involved.

The building for the institute is expected to be 3 or 4 stories tall and include a clinical trials office to coordinate research involving patients, including national drug trials, novel therapies, and a tumor 'bank' for gathering and storing tissue for various research studies. The facility will support a translational research laboratory where research scientists and physicians can work together to understand the basic molecular mechanism of the formulation of tumors (known as tumorigenesis) as well as identify markers for early detection. A center for outreach will be based in the building, focusing the institute's effort in downstate Illinois including epidemiology studies as well as public and physician education.

The building also will allow consolidation of the School's multi-disciplinary clinics and most likely include those for breast, head and neck, lung and prostate cancers. Known as organ site working groups, each uses teams from various disciplines to treat cancers. Other groups being developed include gastrointestinal, gynecological, hematological and pediatrics. It also will have other patient areas such as rooms for support group meetings and a library.

Planning for the building is continuing this summer, with actual drawings to be finalized by fall. Detailed specifications for the building will follow and constructions bids requested early next year. It is hoped that construction would begin in the spring of 2005 and completed in 2007. The firms designing the new building are BSA Life Structures of Indianapolis and Hanson Professional Services of Springfield.

The SIU Board of Trustees approved plans for the institute in 2000 and the General Assembly approved $14.5 million for design, land acquisition and construction in 2002.

Because of increased costs in building as well as technology requirements, the medical school is projecting a higher total cost for the building. The School has received approval from its Board of Trustees to proceed with selling $6 million of revenue bonds in order to increase the total budget for the building. The bonds would be repaid from institutional sources such as the income from the clinical practice of its physician faculty.

"Another source of funds are philanthropic gifts and this is a perfect time for individuals in the region to become involved, perhaps making a gift in memory of a family member. Major gifts could allow us to expand the building at this early stage," explains Robbins.

While building details are finalized, Robbins says various research efforts for the institute also are proceeding. During the past 20 months, 14 different clinical trials have begun, with more than 400 patients screened and 100-plus enrolled in cancer studies. Current studies are underway for breast, prostate, oral cavity, renal and bladder cancers.

"We've recruited two junior research scientists and now are working to recruit a senior scientist who can serve as director of our molecular oncology core facility," Robbins says. The institute also is recruiting an associate director for basic science and for translational research and an outreach coordinator.

"Because we are using organ site working groups here at SIU, other potential recruitments from around the country find this opportunity very attractive since not all cancer institutes prioritize the team approach, involving both physicians and researchers," he adds.

SIU faculty members in both Springfield and Carbondale currently have 21 national grants for cancer research as well as eight smaller institutional start-up grants. The current total is $7.4 million. New equipment also is being added to develop the core facility including a laser micro dissector, which allows tissue specimens to be prepared for gene analysis.

The SIU Cancer Institute has a web site at http://www.siumed.edu/cancer/. The main phone number is 217-545-6818.

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Note to media: Two JPG images are available on request or via http://www.siumed.edu/news. (Aerial view - Architect's drawing)