The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

MD Anderson Cancer Center, founded in 1941 and located in Houston, Texas, is one of the world's most respected centers devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education, and prevention. It was designated as one of the first three Comprehensive Cancer Centers by the National Cancer Act of 1971, and today is one of 39 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers. The center employs over 18,000 staff including more than 1,500 physicians, with 500+ beds. It admits over 19,000 inpatients annually from the United States and abroad, handles 1,800 daily outpatient visits, and treats over 79,000 cancer patients each year — approximately one-third of whom come from outside Texas. More than 11,000 patients participate in cutting-edge clinical trials of new drugs and technologies annually. In 2008 alone, the center treated 90,000 cancer patients, 30,000 of whom were new patients from across the globe, including political leaders and business elites such as Kun-Hee Lee, former chairman of Samsung Group. MD Anderson provides comprehensive cancer treatment including targeted therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, precision radiotherapy (including proton therapy), immunotherapy, and combination approaches. Interdisciplinary expert teams collaborate closely to develop optimal treatment plans for each patient. The center invests over $400 million annually in basic medical research and holds numerous NCI-funded research projects, including 10 NCI SPORE grants covering brain tumors, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma. Each year, over 1,100 clinical residents receive specialized training in cancer research and treatment at MD Anderson. For many years, MD Anderson has provided Chinese oncologists with opportunities to learn the world's most advanced techniques. Physicians from virtually every major cancer hospital in China have trained at the center, including renowned experts such as Academician Sun Yan of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital. Website: www.mdanderson.org