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New cancer research center officially opens amidst fanfare at College of Medicine

Cancer research in Peoria has taken a giant leap forward with the opening of the new research center at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Not only will the new center help modernize research being done, it will help UICOMP to recruit more talented researchers to Peoria, school and civic leaders said Monday during a ceremony at which they cut the ribbon on cancer research center.

The $13 million, 24,000 square-foot center that took just over a year to build has been about 10 years in the planning, since UICOMP began doing cancer research in 2001 when it recruited internationally known scientist Dr. Jasti Rao to head the research effort.

"My life's goal is to improve the quality of life and survival rates for cancer patients," said Rao, who is senior associate dean for research at UICOMP. "I have always dreamed of having a facility and the necessary funds to recruit other research experts to help reach these goals."

Already Rao has discovered and patented a new anti-cancer treatment that is now being safety tested before trials using humans begins. Rao and the research center to date have received nearly $28 million in research grants from the National Institute of Health — more than any researcher has received before — and has published 150 papers.

Dr. Sara Rusch, UICOMP Regional Dean, acted as host for the ceremony Monday, introducing the various people whose collaborative efforts made the day possible.

The research center has been a collaborative effort between UICOMP, the Heartland Partnership and many civic leaders throughout the region, she said. Much credit for getting the collaboration started was given to Ray LaHood when he represented Peoria in Congress. LaHood now is U.S. Secretary of Transportation in the President Obama administration and he was on hand for Monday's ceremony.

Noting the research center already has brought in "some of the smartest people" and calling Rao "one of the smartest researchers in the world," LaHood said the effort would not have succeeded without all the area's elected officials, civic organizations and top business leaders like Caterpillar Inc. stepping forward to do what was necessary.

"We have given the ultimate gift to our community this holiday season," said LaHood.

Jim Baumgartner, director of public affairs for Caterpillar, also praised the collaboration. "Today we are celebrating the symbolism of bring people together for the community," he said.

Adding the "Caterpillar's home is in Peoria" and bringing cheers from the 100-plus people attending the ceremony, he said that "Peoria is a world class city with world class people."

Other speakers included State Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, who said, "We do a lot of things in Peoria and we do them well. When we do things in a bipartisan manner it's the best way." He was flanked at the podium by Republicans David Leitch and Darin LaHood, state representative and state senator, respectively.

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis spoke of the vision of those at UICOMP, including former dean Dr. Don Rager, who not only saw the need for the cancer research center but "also the foresight to recruit Dr. Rao."

Jim McConoughey, president of the Heartland Partnership, named several others who helped during the past decade to bring the center to fruition. "We believe in the commitment of everybody involved," he said.

But he gave a special nod to construction workers who battled through a wet spring and hot summer to bring the project in on time. In talking with some of them during construction he learned their commitment was because they'd lost loved ones to cancer and wanted to do their part to help find a cure.

"They put their heart and soul into this project and here are. This has truly been a community collaboration," McConoughey said.

Rusch said about 60 percent of the primary care givers in the Peoria area were schooled at UICOMP, people who stayed in the area after completing their education because of their belief in the area.

"This new and modern building represents the bright future of the College of Medicine. It symbolizes how our community works together to accomplish great things," she said. "Our community is blessed with great leadership and we've united behind our desire to cure this dreaded disease."

Those attending the ceremony were given a laminated photograph that looked like an abstract painting. Instead it was a photograph taken in Rao's laboratory showing umbilical cord blood stem cells surrounding and killing human cancer cells. It was part of one of his National Institute of Health grants to research "Growth inhibition of brain tumors by cord blood stem cells."

On UICOMP's website, peoria.medicine.uic.edu, Rao wrote about the research and said, "The results of these varied research projects allow us to unravel medical mysteries, pioneer groundbreaking discoveries and invent new technologies — all aimed at enhancing the quality of life. We are exploring the latest frontiers in science and biomedical research."

Paul Gordon is editor of The Peorian. He can be reached at 692-7880 or editor@thepeorian.com.

 

 

 

About the Author
Paul Gordon is the editor of The Peorian after spending 29 years of indentured servitude at the Peoria Journal Star. He’s an award-winning writer, raconteur and song-and-dance man. He also went to a high school whose team name is the Alices (that’s Vincennes Lincoln High School in Indiana; you can look it up).