The NCI-designated Cancer Centers are a major source of discovery of the nature of cancer and of the development of more effective approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. They also deliver medical advances to patients and their families, educate health-care professionals and the public, and reach out to underserved populations. They are characterized by strong organizational capabilities, institutional commitment, and trans-disciplinary, cancer-focused science; experienced scientific and administrative leadership, and state-of-the-art cancer research and patient care facilities.   

Within the NCI framework, there are a total of 63 centers in the U.S.  Of these NCI-designated centers, 22 are “Cancer Centers,” which conduct research or combine research efforts while also providing clinical care.  The remaining centers comprise the “top tier” of this designation framework, and are called “Comprehensive Centers.”   Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego is one of 41 in the country to have achieved this distinction. 

Many organizations that are dedicated exclusively to health care call themselves comprehensive cancer centers based on a self-assessment of their prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services. However, the term “comprehensive” -- as used by the NCI -- requires more than state-of-the-art care and services.  It includes a strong research base interactive with a wide spectrum of prevention, care, education, information and dissemination activities that broadly serve communities, regions of the country and often the Nation. These activities are supported by a broad array of Federal and non-Federal funding sources, such as grants and contracts focused on research, prevention and control, training, and education; state awards; and private donations.