SR0727LRB103 39121 LAW 69261 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Illinois has the sixth highest cancer mortality
3in the country and is among the group of states with the
4largest socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and rural disparities
5in stage at diagnosis, mortality, and outcomes in the nation;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, The University of Illinois Cancer Center (UICC)
8has striven to reduce and eliminate inequalities in cancer
9outcomes through community-driven, scientific solutions for
10equitable outcomes in screening, diagnosis, treatment, and
11survivorship; and
 
12    WHEREAS, UICC and partners have addressed cancer
13disparities for more than 30 years in a variety of ways,
14including with basic science to identify mechanisms of
15disparities, in translational science to test new treatments
16that can eliminate disparities, and in population science to
17test multilevel strategies that address structural, social,
18and behavioral drivers of cancer disparities in communities,
19federally qualified health centers, and safety net settings;
20and
 
21    WHEREAS, UICC's demonstrated scientific excellence and
22capability for cancer health equity has always been centered

 

 

SR0727- 2 -LRB103 39121 LAW 69261 r

1in genuine, bidirectional relationships across community,
2healthcare, government, and academic sectors; and
 
3    WHEREAS, UICC is uniquely positioned to address cancer
4equity through outreach, practice, and science, given its
5Majority Minority Representation in Research, including
6possessing primarily minority and low-income participant
7representation through tissue biorepositories, clinical
8trials, and public health studies focused on ensuring
9innovations in prevention, early detection, treatment, and
10cures for cancer have equitable effects and access, which are
11made possible through quality, affordable cancer care
12available under the University of Illinois Hospital & Health
13Sciences System, from equitable, low or no-cost hereditary
14risk assessment and genetic services to equitable precision
15oncology treatments and survivorship; and
 
16    WHEREAS, UICC is committed to the expansion of its
17infrastructure throughout the State of Illinois, an
18infrastructure that is centered on eradicating disparities in
19cancer care access and outcomes, which leverages its
20application for National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation;
21and
 
22    WHEREAS, NCI designation is an accreditation given by the
23National Institutes of Health to elite U.S.-based medical and

 

 

SR0727- 3 -LRB103 39121 LAW 69261 r

1laboratory institutions to demonstrate that these institutions
2are leaders in addressing the nation's cancer burden through
3research; and
 
4    WHEREAS, NCI-designated cancer centers provide economic
5benefits for their communities, with the potential of over $1
6billion in economic impact, by creating thousands of middle
7and high-wage jobs, recruiting world-class physicians and
8scientists, partnering with private corporations, and
9attracting philanthropic donations and with the ability to
10secure millions of dollars in additional funding for cancer
11research through exclusive partnerships with the National
12Institutes of Health; and
 
13    WHEREAS, NCI-designated cancer centers offer significant
14benefits for communities, including federal funding that UICC
15would use for equity-driven, inclusive training and elevation
16of the next generation of diverse healthcare workers and
17researchers, providing education in STEM programs and
18mentorship opportunities, and producing a diverse, stable,
19future healthcare workforce focused on historically
20underserved communities; and
 
21    WHEREAS, NCI-designated cancer centers benefit from
22additional funding and resources to optimize infrastructure
23for community outreach and engagement, including multilevel

 

 

SR0727- 4 -LRB103 39121 LAW 69261 r

1enhancements for cancer education of evidence-based
2information to communities, technical assistance for
3healthcare systems, including federally qualified health
4centers and safety net facilities to enhance the quality of
5affordable, accessible primary and specialty cancer care, and
6training for community members and leaders to be embedded in
7science as partners and decision-makers to characterize and
8eliminate cancer disparities; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Patients cared for by NCI-designated cancer
10centers have lower mortality rates, and said cancer centers
11are at the forefront of developing, testing, and scaling
12cutting-edge, novel tools, therapies, and innovations for
13their communities and beyond; and
 
14    WHEREAS, NCI designation for UICC would have the
15institution join the distinguished ranks of two existing
16NCI-designated cancer centers in the State of Illinois,
17Northwestern University and the University of Chicago; having
18three NCI-designated cancer centers, each with significant
19resources, would result in major cumulative growth and
20significant increases in the economic, educational, community,
21and health benefits for the State and its communities; and
 
22    WHEREAS, An additional NCI cancer center, unique in its
23focus on cancer disparities through community engagement, has

 

 

SR0727- 5 -LRB103 39121 LAW 69261 r

1significant potential to reduce cancer burden by increasing
2access to the continuum of quality cancer care through
3partnerships across the State and by the implementation of a
4community-to-bench model, where communities guide and partner
5with providers and researchers to ensure science is inspired
6by and reflects community needs, priorities, and strengths;
7therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support the
10accreditation of the University of Illinois Cancer Center
11(UICC) as an additional NCI-designated cancer center in
12Illinois, which will be focused and driven to characterize and
13eliminate disparities in cancer outcomes; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15delivered to the University of Illinois Cancer Center.