Gundersen Health Systems to share $12.5 million cancer research grant

The National Cancer Institute has awarded a $12.5 million grant to three Wisconsin-based medical systems--Gundersen Medical Foundation, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation and St. Vincent Regional Cancer Center in Green Bay.

The three health care organizations will be working together closely to improve access to cancer trials for more patients, as they target some of the biggest questions in cancer research.

Gundersen enrolls about 188 patients each year in cancer trials and has approximately 100 open trials; MCRF has about 150 active clinical cancer research trials at any given time; and St. Vincent has about 120 open trials, and enrolls about 200 patients each year.

"This is a great opportunity for Gundersen Health System to stay on the cutting edge of cancer research.  We'll continue to provide our patients access to NCI-sponsored cancer clinical trials, while removing barriers to participation for our rural population," says Gundersen medical oncologist Dr. Kurt Oettel.