Kentucky has gained new clout in its fight against cancer, resulting from the rising status of the cancer center at its flagship university.
The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center in Lexington on Friday earned the designation as a National Cancer Institute facility. It becomes the 68th medical center in the country to receive the prestigious title and the only one in Kentucky.
The designation has the potential to bring millions of dollars of additional research funding to the Markey Center.
It also means patients will have access to new drugs, treatment options and clinical trials offered only at NCI centers.
UK President Eli Capilouto says it signals that Kentucky will "no longer indulge the scourge of cancer."
Kentucky is at or near the top nationally in several cancer rates.