Following three years of planning, Stanford’s 1,200 page proposal to become a National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Center was submitted to the National Institutes of Health on Feb. 1.

In his Feb. 6 e-newsletter, Dean Philip A. Pizzo said that while Stanford needs to wait for the formal review process and undergo a highly competitive and detailed review process, “I am encouraged by the excellent feedback that we received from two external advisory committees and consultants, and I am optimistic about our ultimate success” in receiving NCI designation.

Pizzo said a site visit is scheduled in May and a decision on the designation, which among other things facilitates referrals and research grants, is expected this summer. If successful, interim approval would occur, followed, hopefully, with final approval in three years.

--Courtesy of Dean Philip A. Pizzo’s
e-newsletter, http://deansnewsletter
stanford.edu/archive/02_06_06.html