University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Name	University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Established	1941
Type	Academic medical center
Headquarters	Houston, Texas, United States
Affiliations	University of Texas System, Texas Medical Center
President	Peter Pisters
Website	mdanderson.org

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. It is a comprehensive cancer treatment and research institution located within the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Founded in 1941, it is one of the original three comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. The institution is named for businessman and philanthropist Monroe Dunaway Anderson.

History

The center's origins trace back to the 1941 Texas State Legislature's creation of the University of Texas Cancer Hospital, with funding from the M.D. Anderson Foundation. It officially opened for patients in 1944 in a converted house in Houston before moving to its current campus in the Texas Medical Center in 1954. Under the leadership of early directors like Dr. R. Lee Clark, the institution rapidly expanded its clinical and research missions. A pivotal moment was its designation as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute in 1971, cementing its national role. Subsequent decades saw massive growth, including the establishment of major research buildings and the development of its global network through programs like the MD Anderson Cancer Network.

Organization and leadership

MD Anderson is a component institution of the University of Texas System and is governed by the University of Texas System Board of Regents. The institution's president, a position held since 2017 by surgical oncologist Dr. Peter Pisters, serves as its chief executive officer. It is organized into numerous multidisciplinary divisions and departments, such as the Division of Cancer Medicine and the Department of Surgical Oncology. Key leadership also includes executive vice presidents for areas like patient care and faculty affairs. The institution operates with a large professional staff, including over 1,700 faculty members, and maintains a close operational relationship with its partner hospitals within the Texas Medical Center.

Patient care and clinical programs

The center provides care through a system of disease-focused, multidisciplinary teams organized within specialized clinical units like the Leukemia Center and the Brain and Spine Center. It operates a large inpatient hospital and an extensive network of outpatient clinics, treating over 135,000 patients annually. Its clinical programs are renowned for pioneering advances in areas such as sarcoma treatment, head and neck cancer surgery, and melanoma immunotherapy. The institution also runs one of the world's largest bone marrow transplantation programs. Supportive care is delivered through integrated services like the Integrative Medicine Center and the Cancer Prevention Center.

Research

Research at MD Anderson spans basic, translational, clinical, and prevention science, with annual research expenditures exceeding $900 million. It houses several NCI-designated core facilities, including the Center for Cancer Epigenetics and the Institute for Applied Cancer Science. The institution is a leader in therapeutic development, contributing significantly to drugs targeting BRCA mutations and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Major collaborative initiatives include participation in the The Cancer Genome Atlas project and leadership of the APOLLO Network for lung cancer. Its research park, the South Campus Research Building, consolidates many translational science efforts.

Education and training

As a degree-granting academic unit of the University of Texas System, MD Anderson offers a range of educational programs. It is home to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, a joint venture with UTHealth Houston. The institution provides extensive clinical training through residency and fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, including in subspecialties like gynecologic oncology and radiation oncology. It also hosts the School of Health Professions and offers continuing medical education for physicians and scientists worldwide through its Global Academic Programs.

Rankings and recognition

MD Anderson has consistently been ranked as one of the top two cancer hospitals in the United States in the "Best Hospitals" survey published by U.S. News & World Report, often holding the number one position. It has been recognized as a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The institution received the National Cancer Institute's highest possible rating, "exceptional," for its cancer center support grant. Its faculty members have been recipients of prestigious awards including the Lasker Award, the National Medal of Science, and membership in the National Academy of Medicine.

Category:University of Texas System Category:Cancer centers in the United States Category:Medical and health organizations based in Texas Category:Buildings and structures in Houston Category:1941 establishments in Texas