A Milestone for Our Mission: Fox Chase Cancer Center Reaffirms National Leadership with Renewal of Prestigious NCI Grant
In a landmark moment that underscores our national leadership in cancer research and care, Fox Chase Cancer Center has received a five-year renewal of our Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). With this renewal comes the reaffirmation of Fox Chase’s elite status, securing our place among just 57 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers nationwide.
Continuing Our Legacy
This five-year renewal announced on May 21 marks both a continuation and a celebration of our legacy: Fox Chase was the first institution in Philadelphia to earn the NCI’s Comprehensive designation back in 1974, and has maintained it ever since—now for more than 50 consecutive years.
This achievement is the culmination of countless hours of preparation and immeasurable dedication to our mission,” said Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President and CEO of Fox Chase. “It reflects the extraordinary efforts of our faculty and staff, the vital support of our colleagues across Temple Health and Temple University, and the steadfast vision of our Board.”
A Prestigious Foundation
Known as the "Core Grant," the CCSG is widely recognized as the most prestigious grant awarded to academic cancer centers. It serves as a foundation for scientific and clinical innovation, enabling research across the full spectrum—from basic science to clinical trials to population health—while supporting the infrastructure needed to deliver on that mission.
This is arguably the single most important grant held by our institution,” said Jonathan Chernoff, MD, PhD, Cancer Center Director. “It is a rigorous validation of the strength and impact of our work and affirms our place among the nation’s leading cancer centers.”
The renewal followed a comprehensive review process that spanned more than a year. After submitting a detailed application in January 2024, Fox Chase hosted a site visit in April for a review team. The NCI’s review process is rigorous, and the praise in its preliminary report was resounding: Fox Chase is “superb,” “transformed,” and “on an upward trajectory.” Official notification of the grant launched a new five-year funding cycle, setting the stage for continued leadership in cancer research at FCCC.
Philadelphia’s Cancer Center
The leadership of both Uzzo and Chernoff emphasized that this moment belongs to the entire Fox Chase community. From the faculty and staff to the institutional partners and board members, each contributed to a milestone that not only affirms the Center’s past achievements but also signals a bold path forward.
This is something we achieved together,” Uzzo said. “We are Philadelphia’s Cancer Center—and we are just getting started.”
Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.
