Uncertainty, the Future, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
The past few months have been a time of great uncertainty for those of us conducting research at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. I understand and appreciate the concerns you may have, and I want to provide as much information as I can about our current status—and our future.
Case CCC has always been driven by the remarkable passion of every researcher who stays late to conduct a critical experiment; each clinician who comforts a patient through the worst day of their life; every student who continues to challenge us with new questions.
No matter the turbulence we face, this will not change. Our commitment to advancing cancer research and providing exceptional medical care in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio will never wane.
This exemplary dedication was confirmed last fall, when Case CCC received an “Outstanding” merit ranking at our site visit. This exceptional achievement places us in the top 4.1% of all comprehensive cancer centers nationwide—and it reflects your outstanding research and clinical care.
Despite earning this rating in September, however, we have yet to receive the associated funding award—nor has any other center awaiting reapproval. Our renewal, and that of others, was dependent on the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) meeting in February, which was abruptly canceled. We also were recently notified that, to comply with federal executive orders, we had to remove all diversity, equity and inclusion-related elements from our written grant submission, which we have completed and resubmitted.
At this time, we are being sustained with a “no-cost” extension, which means we remain a top-tier, NCI-designated and recognized Comprehensive Cancer Center but with no new funding. We are hopeful that NCAB will re-approve Case CCC as an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center at its June meeting, which would allow our funding flow to resume. I will keep everyone posted on this as soon as I have updated information.
In addition, we have great concerns about the cutbacks we are seeing in federal funding for research nationwide. We do not know how much the reduction will be, or for how long. This continued unpredictability has led Case CCC to put new hirings on hold. Funding is precarious, but with the gracious support of our consortium partners—Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals—we have been able to sustain our work.
We continue to advance our mission across several fronts:
- Continuing our pilot programs, which allow investigators to initiate new clinical trials or to test new hypotheses in their laboratories to bring us closer to cancer cures.
- Highlighting our unique core resources to a broader audience to increase awareness of their availability to our cancer research community.
- Engaging with the Association of American Cancer Institutions to connect with legislator leaders.
- Participating in AACI Hill Day (May 22) with a delegation from CWRU to meet with legislative leaders in Washington, D.C., to discuss how best to address the needs of our cancer community and to emphasize the importance of sustainable funding.
- Forming new relationships with international sponsors such as L’Oreal/La Roche-Posay to fund a sunscreen protection program to address the increasing incidence of melanoma in Northeast Ohio.
- Working on new public health initiatives with the mayors from 13 municipalities in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties to expand our outreach.
- Planning a fundraiser for November 2025 to increase awareness of and raise funds for Case CCC.
- Working with our Executive Council to develop awareness-raising approaches for the Case CCC and to find new funding opportunities.
We know these challenges will not last forever, but we must meet them head-on—because cancer does not wait, and neither can we.
Gary K. Schwartz, MD, FASCO
Director, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center