UT Health SA Newsroom: Von Eschenbach to help dedicate Children’s Cancer Research Institute
There could be no more fitting keynote speaker, at the dedication of a new cancer research institute for San Antonio, than a three-time cancer survivor. Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, director of the National Cancer Institute, will bring his unique perspective as a cancer physician and survivor to the dedication of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio’s Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI). The dedication begins at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the Health Science Center’s North Campus, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive in the South Texas Medical Center. The public is invited to attend.
Francisco G. Cigarroa, MD, president of the Health Science Center, is a fellow cancer survivor. He will welcome Dr. von Eschenbach and other speakers including businessman and community leader Red McCombs, state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, UT System Chancellor Mark Yudof, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and CCRI Director Sharon Murphy, MD Cyndi Taylor Krier, vice chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, is an invited guest, and James Huffines, chair of the board’s Facilities Planning and Construction Committee, will officially accept the building on behalf of the Board of Regents.
The CCRI is supported by a $200 million endowment, the largest single endowment for cancer in the country. McCombs was instrumental in the early moves to place the endowment in San Antonio and will give personal insights into that process. The expected audience of 400-plus will include many other invited elected officials and community leaders.
Since 2004, UT Health San Antonio, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute’s (Greehey CCRI) mission has been to advance scientific knowledge relevant to childhood cancer, contribute to understanding its causes, and accelerate the translation of knowledge into novel therapies. Greehey CCRI strives to have a national and global impact on childhood cancer by discovering, developing, and disseminating new scientific knowledge. Our mission consists of three key areas — research, clinical, and education.
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