West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Development

Support the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center

Fundraising Priorities for the
Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center

Endowed chairs

We must secure endowed support for senior leaders and program leaders in the Cancer Center as demonstrable institutional commitment in order to attract the best scientists and clinicians in cancer. There are currently 3 endowed chairs in the Cancer Center (DeLynn Chair – the Director; The Statler Chair for Breast Cancer Research; and the Statler Distinguished Professor in Breast Cancer – the later two to be named). Five–year target: minimum of additional 5 chairs at $1.5 M per chair ($7.5 M).

Capital Improvement

The third floor of the new MBRCC expansion includes approximately 11,000 square feet of shell space to support clinical trials administrative offices; a dedicated treatment facility devoted to novel investigational anticancer therapies and the necessary pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) monitoring; and wet laboratories for Cancer Center scientists. It is anticipated that approximately $2.5 M is needed to equip/build out the Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU) and clinical space for the administration of investigational therapies and monitoring of patients. An additional $1M is needed to equip/build out the wet laboratory space and $1M is needed to purchase new laboratory equipment. Two–year target: $4.5 M.

Endowment to Support the Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU)

Funds to support (e.g., programmatic, administrative and database maintenance) and help underwrite a portion of the costs incurred in sustaining a vibrant research regulatory and administrative unit are vital in order to secure access to the latest anticancer therapies in the region. The Cancer Center is looked upon for leadership in this area for the HSC and funds should be devoted to cancer and non–cancer research enterprises. Portions of funds can be allocated to endowed and non–endowed cost center components. Five–to–seven year target: $5 M; this will provide $250,000 of endowed support to ensure that residents of Morgantown, the region and State will have access to the latest anticancer therapies and other investigational therapies.

Soon, our new Clinical Research Unit will help patients enroll in the latest clinical trials — and stay in West Virginia while participating in novel therapeutic treatments on an out–patient basis.

Pilot Funding Program Endowment

The MBRCC needs to sustain a vibrant pilot funding mechanism to support new investigators, to be responsive to trends in national priorities in cancer research, provide opportunities to generate critical data needed to provide an impetus for new research applications, to encourage new collaborative (foster intra– and inter–programmatic) interactions, and to provide bridge funding all of which must lead to successor NIH or other extramural funding initiatives. Portions of donor funds should be devoted to endowed and non–endowed cost centers. This type of giving further enables more personalized and focused use of funds. Three–to–five year target: $3M, which will provide $150,000 of endowed support on an annual basis to support novel and innovative pilot research, which is the lifeblood of a Cancer Center. There is also immediate economic impact with these types of awards.

Director’s Flexible Spending Funds

All contributions to the MBRCC are vital no matter how big or small. Flexibility with this funding pool is imperative and vital for sustenance of Cancer Center initiatives. Donations made without designation will be divided among two different funds, a non–endowed Director’s Fund and an endowed Mountaineer Fund.

The Director’s Fund

The Director’s Fund will permit the Cancer Center to provide ad hoc support (with appropriate review by the Senior Leadership team) for investigators for the purchase of immediate small laboratory equipment, laboratory supplies, ability to provide funding for critical consultative advice (i.e., laboratory or statistical expertise), purchase of computer software, etc. to maintain pace of state–of–the–art research activities to support extramural research grant applications.

The Endowed Mountaineer Fund

The Endowed Mountaineer Fund will grow and allow the Cancer Center Senior Leadership to seize emerging opportunities in the Center. Target $1.5M.

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