Historical Highlights of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center

1955 • First long-range UAB planning document shows Cancer Institute.

1961 • American Cancer Society recommends establishment of a UAB clinical research unit.

1966 • Second long-range planning document shows Cancer Center.

1968 • Death of Governor Lurleen B. Wallace from cancer prompts her successor, Governor Albert Brewer, to initiate cancer crusade in Alabama. • The first planning meeting of the Courage Crusade is held on the UAB campus and is attended by Dr. S. Richardson Hill, then dean of the School of Medicine; the crusade establishes objective of building Lurleen B. Wallace Tumor Institute at UAB. • Fund-raising drive begins. • Dr. John Durant is recruited as cancer planning coordinator.

1969 • UAB GYN/Oncology Division is created.

1970 • Cancer Program formalized at UAB, and Dr. Durant appointed as director. • Fund-raising goal of $5 million raised from the Courage Crusade. • NCI funds cancer center planning grant. • Cancer Center has about 20 faculty members. • Annual Cancer Center grant support is approximately $200,000.

1971 • UAB receives its first clinical cancer training grant.

1972 • First Cancer Center grant of $4.3 million over three years funded by NCI. • Phase I National Cancer Institute construction grant awarded for the Wallace Tumor Institute (WTI) to be built with matching funds from local sources.

1973 • UAB Cancer Center named one of the first eight comprehensive cancer centers by the NCI. • Phase II construction grant funded for WTI. • Governor of Alabama pledges $2 million from revenue sharing for an 80-bed cancer inpatient facility. • Combining the $5 million from the Courage Crusade with federal and state funds, $15 million is designated for construction of the Tumor Institute and Wallace Patient Tower.

1974 • Groundbreaking for Tumor Institute. • Alabama Breast Cancer Project is initiated and conducted by Dr. William Maddox to evaluate on a statewide basis the results of radical versus modified radical mastectomy. • State-wide program, run by Dr. John Carpenter, is instituted to evaluate adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

1975 • Establishment of the X-ray Crystallography Program under Dr. Charles Bugg. • Dr. Max Cooper initiates the Immunobiology Program. • Cancer Control Developmental Grant is awarded to UAB with Dr. Richard Gams as P.I. • Dr. William Crist is recruited to initiate a pediatric oncology program at UAB. • Dr. Richard Compans is recruited to establish the Virology Program. • The Center's Biostatistics Unit is begun to provide statistical support to Cancer Center investigators. • The Southeastern Cancer Study Group, one of the four major cooperative cancer study groups in the country, is based at the UAB Cancer Center with Dr. Durant as chairman.

1976 • Cancer Center faculty has increased to approximately 94 members. • The 38,000 square foot Lurleen Wallace Tumor Institute and Radiation Therapy Building is occupied. • Cancer Center has approximately $6.5 million in grant support this year with 83 peer-reviewed projects.

1977 • Dr. Richard Whitley and his mentor, Dr. Charles Alford, are recognized for their breakthrough work in demonstrating for the first time anywhere in the world that a virus infection can be successfully treated using intravenous drugs. • Dr. Seng-jaw Soong is named director of the Biostatistics Unit.

1979 • The 80-bed Lurleen B. Wallace Tower of University Hospital opens.

1980 • Cancer Center faculty has increased to 124 members with $12 million in grant support.

1981 • UAB is recognized as one of the established leaders in the field of antiviral chemotherapy through Dr. Whitley's investigation of the pharmacology of Ara A and its efficacy in herpes zoster. • Funding for a Nutrition Center to examine the problems of nutrition in cancer is provided by NCI. • Laboratory for Special Cancer Research is completed and occupied by researchers working on projects requiring dangerous chemicals and viruses.

1982 • Dr. Durant leaves UAB to become president of Fox-Chase Cancer Center.

1983 • Dr. Albert LoBuglio is recruited to direct the UAB Cancer Center and Division of Hematology-Oncology. • Cancer Center has approximately $14 million in grant support this year. • Establishment of the Cancer Center's Nutrition Program under Dr. Carlos Krumdieck. • Recruitment of Dr. Robert Wells to head Molecular Genetics Program. • Hematology-Oncology Clinic opens in Russell Ambulatory Center.

1984 • Dr. Robert Diasio is recruited and establishes the Cancer Pharmacology Program. • Cancer Research programs move into laboratory space in recently completed Basic Health Sciences Building, the construction of which was assisted by a $4.8 million endowment from the estate of Anise J. Sorrell of Pike County, in memory of her husband, W. Jeff Sorrell, who died of cancer. • The Cancer Center Supporters, a volunteer group, is organized.

1985 • Drs. George Shaw and Beatrice Hahn are recruited to initiate human retrovirus research efforts (AIDS). • Initiation of capital fund drive to add three floors to Wallace Tumor Institute.

1986 • UAB is cited in The Best in Medicine as the third "best" medical facility in the country, with emphasis on the quality of cancer diagnosis and treatment programs. • Cancer Center Supporters sponsor first fund-raising Gala to benefit the Center. • The Center carries out the first clinical trial of a human monoclonal antibody in patients.

1987 • Dr. Diasio receives coveted NCI Merit Award (1987 to 1997) to support his research in pharmacogenomics. • The Center carries out the first clinical trial of a genetically engineered mouse/human monoclonal antibody in patients. • Cancer Center Supporters raise funds for acquisition of DNA Sequencer.

1988 • Cancer Center has approximately $28 million in grant support. •High-tech 600 megahertz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer acquired for Center's NMR core facility with assistance from Supporters' fund-raiser. • Dr. Cooper becomes the first faculty member from any Alabama institution to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences and is named as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.

1989 • Center is awarded $4.8 million by NCI for monoclonal antibody clinical trials in competition with 30 other centers across the country. • UAB recognizes Cancer Center for receiving largest annual award, the Cancer Center Core Grant of more than $3 million per year.

1990 • Drs. Robert Castleberry and Peter Emanuel develop promising treatment for children with Juvenile Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia using a compound derived from Vitamin A. • Dr. Donald Miller is named director, Division of Hematology-Oncology.

1991 • Groundbreaking held for the 45,000 square foot, three-story addition to the Wallace Tumor Institute. • Cancer Center has approximately $42 million in grant support. • NCI re-designates Cancer Center as comprehensive. • Nine-bed bone marrow transplant unit it opened under the direction of newly recruited Dr. William Vaughan. • Using X-ray crystallography and computer graphics, the Center's crystallography group identifies for the first time the structure of the important protein gamma interferon (an immune system regulator). • Dr. Larry DeLucas is selected as the nation's first civilian scientist-astronaut. In June 1992, he carried out UAB crystal growth experiments in space on the Shuttle Columbia with tailor-made drug design as the ultimate goal.

1992 • Cancer Center faculty has increased to 220 members. • Three-story research addition to Wallace Tumor Institute completed. • All ambulatory care of the Cancer Center, except Radiation Oncology, is relocated into the Kirklin Clinic, the new $125 million outpatient facility in the UAB Campus area; Radiation Oncology remains in the excellent facilities of the Wallace Tumor Institute. • Drs. Tom Broker and Louise Chow are recruited to establish cervical cancer research laboratory, for which Cancer Center Supporters' fund-raising efforts provide funding. • Dr. Ed Partridge initiates Cancer Control Program in the underserved Black Best counties of Alabama.

1993 • NCI funds Cancer Information Service at UAB with a five-year, $2.5 million grant • Dr. Al LoBuglio receives UAB President's Medal.

1994 • UsTOO prostate cancer support group organized by Dr. Donald Urban. • The Evalina B. Spencer Chair in Oncology is established with Dr. Al LoBuglio as the first holder • Second edition of The Best Doctors in America lists 17 UAB Cancer Center physicians • Cancer Center Supporters raise $250,000 - establish research lab in memory of Tade Harrison Thuston.

1995 • Dr. John Durant leaves UAB as vice president for health affairs to become executive vice president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) • A Tribe of Warrior Women photo essay commissioned by Cancer Center to salute Alabama breast cancer survivors • Center re-designated as "comprehensive" by NCI • UAB and HealthSouth install only gamma knife in Alabama • Dr. Al LoBuglio selected as UAB Academic Health Center's Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, the highest honor conferred by the faculty.

1996 • UAB Cancer Center joins National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network (NCCN) • Center publishes A Legacy of Love: The Story of the Lurleen B. Wallace Foundation and the Courage Crusade.

1997 • Jeanne and Ann Griffin Chair for Women's Cancer Research - Dr. David Curiel named as first holder • Plans announced for $24 million Human Genetics Building • Center opens Familial Cancer Clinic - Dr. Lisle Nabell, director • Gene Therapy Program first in country to be awarded training grant for gene therapy scientific training alone - Drs. David Curiel and Theresa Strong, director and co-director • Dr. James Bonner recruited to chair UAB Department of Radiation Oncology

1998 • The UAB Breast Center opens in The Kirklin Clinic • Cancer Center Supporters raise $402,000 to fund new researcher. • Cancer Center research support (from all sources) exceeds $65 million • Dr. James Bonner named as first holder of the Merle M. Salter Chair in Radiation Oncology • Joy and Bill Harbert Chair in Cancer Genetics is established • UAB receives $8 million from NCI to conduct the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) trial - a 14-year study - Dr. Albert Oberman, PI.

1999 • George Shaw, M.D., Ph.D., is named director, Division of Hematology-Oncology. • Interdisciplinary Urologic Cancer Clinic opens in the Kirklin Clinic. • NCI re-designates Cancer Center as comprehensive - receives the University's largest single grant, Core Grant renewal for five years. • Cancer Center membership increases to 311 members. • Cancer Center awarded NCI Ovarian SPORE (specialized program of research excellence) - totals $9 million over five years • Dr. Seng-jaw Soong receives first Cancer Center Distinguished Faculty Award • Continental Registry for Rare Childhood Leukemia established at Cancer Center - initiated by Drs. Robert Castleberry and Peter Emanuel.

2000 • Kirby I. Bland, M.D. is named Deputy Director of the Cancer Center and Chairman of the Department of Surgery. • Cancer Center Supporters raise more than $500,000 to purchase a dual-headed gamma camera. • Dr. John Rinehart is named associate director of clinical research. • Cancer Center receives $2.2 million from Avon Products Foundation • Cancer Center awarded NCI Breast Cancer SPORE - totals $13.8 million over five years • Cancer Center partners with University of Southern Mississippi to establish Deep South Network for Cancer Control • Dr. Ed Partridge receives the 2000 Cancer Center Distinguished Faculty Award • D.D. Sokol Memorial Breast Cancer Laboratory established with proceeds from 2000 Drive-Out Breast Cancer LPGA Golf Tournament.

2001 • Cancer Center Supporters raise more than $600,000 for prostate cancer research • Cancer Center receives $2 million from Avon Products Foundation • Cancer Center receives $7.5 million from Voncile Johnson Nelson Shealy estate • Dr. J. Michael Ruppert and associates discover new cancer-causing gene, GKLF - the most important cancer genetic discovery in the Center's history.

2002 • Center receives Brain Tumor SPORE • Radiation Oncology acquires IMRT • Acton Road satellite clinic opens. Cancer Center provides radiation and medical oncology services.

2003 • Center for Nutrient Gene Interaction funded. • Bruce Korf, M.D. recruited to direct the Department of Genetics and is Senior Scientist in the Comprehensive Cancer Center. Pancreatic Cancer SPORE funded. • Chemoprevention Program established with Samuel Beenken, M.D. as Director.

2004 • Cancer Center acquires 22,000 NASF in new University Hospital North Pavilion to house Center’s Administration, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, and Development/Community Outreach. • Albert LoBuglio, M.D. steps down from Center directorship and Peter Emanuel, M.D. appointed Acting Director.

2005 • Successfully competes for five year renewal of Cancer Center Support Grant. • Rays of Hope campaign launched to build new radiation oncology facility. • Center Gala breaks record, raises $675,000.

2006 Center Gala breaks million-dollar mark for first time • Edward Partridge, M.D., becomes Interim Director.

2007 • Edward Partridge, M.D., named permanent Director.