Cancer center earns renewed ‘comprehensive’ designation

The National Cancer Institute has renewed the "comprehensive" designation of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, recognizing its excellence in research, clinical care, prevention and education.

The renewal includes a nearly $18 million grant over five years. The funding will help advance groundbreaking research, expand access to clinical trials and strengthen programs that address the region's cancer burden.

"Renewing our NCI comprehensive designation is a powerful validation of the extraordinary, innovative work happening here every day," said Primo "Lucky" Lara Jr., director of the cancer center and principal investigator of the grant. "The recognition reflects the dedication of our physicians, researchers, staff and community partners to cancer care and prevention and to addressing cancer disparities in our region."

The designation places the cancer center among an elite group of only 58 comprehensive cancer centers around the country.

The NCI review process is among the most rigorous in academic medicine. To earn comprehensive status, cancer centers must demonstrate exceptional strength and integration across laboratory, clinical and population-based research programs. They must also show evidence of leadership, community engagement and education efforts.

"UC Davis is driven to break barriers in cancer care through our leading-edge research, compassionate care and community engagement," said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. "Our expertise improves lives and we are honored that the renewed NCI grant furthers the university's mission as an engine of discovery in the fight against cancer."

Evidence-based cancer treatment and prevention

Outside of San Francisco, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center from the Bay Area north to Portland and east to Salt Lake City. It is the only designated center in the Sacramento region.

The center cares for more than 100,000 patients each year and conducts more than 200 active clinical trials, including the region's only phase 1 cancer clinical trials. The center also manufactures CAR-T cells on site, helping to bring leading-edge therapies closer to home.

The designation matters to patients. Research shows that treatment at NCI-designated cancer centers is associated with improved outcomes. One study found a 23% reduction in overall mortality among adults with solid tumors compared with treatment at non-designated centers.

"This is ultimately about the patients and communities we serve," Lara said. "It ensures we can continue delivering world-class, research-driven care close to home, while accelerating the discoveries that will define the future of cancer treatment."

A history of comprehensive care

The nearly $18 million grant will support the cancer center's research infrastructure and shared resources while helping to expand collaborations across the university's schools and colleges. It will also strengthen efforts to reduce cancer disparities among rural, agricultural and historically underserved communities across Northern California and the Central Valley.

"The renewal of our NCI comprehensive designation reinforces UC Davis Health's position as a national leader in cancer care, research and innovation," said Mark Rosenblatt, vice chancellor of human health sciences. "It reflects the exceptional talent and collaboration across our institution, and it demonstrates to patients, families and communities that they can get the most advanced cancer treatments and take part in leading-edge research right here in our region."

In 2025, cancer researchers moved into the new $1 billion Aggie Square innovation district's "cancer research hub" to accelerate discoveries with industry partners.

The new recognition follows other recent accolades for UC Davis Health. In its 2026-2027 rankings, U.S. News & World Report named UC Davis Medical Center the No. 1 hospital in the Sacramento region for at least the 15^th year in a row. In specialty care rankings, it was ranked first in Sacramento and 10^th in California for cancer treatment.

Originally designated as an NCI cancer center in 2002 and awarded comprehensive status in 2012, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has built nationally recognized programs in precision oncology, immunotherapy, cancer prevention and population health. That includes the development of tools like EXPLORER, the world's first total-body PET scanner, and pairing robotic bronchoscopy with 3D imaging to detect lung cancer earlier.

The cancer center is also one of few nationwide to partner with veterinary science - in this case, the No. 1 veterinary school in the country, the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, on a comparative oncology program. The work combines human and companion animal oncology to give hope to both people and pets affected by cancer.

From Labs to Lives

The NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Federal research funding helps transform promising discoveries into real-world breakthroughs that save lives and improve quality of life. Learn more about how public investment in UC Davis research powers innovations, strengthens the economy and advances human health in From Labs to Lives. The NCI grant number for the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center renewal is 2P30CA0933373-24.

Read the latest issue of Synthesis, the magazine of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center