Gov. Warner, National Cancer Institute director to help launch VCU Massey Cancer Center Addition

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley

RICHMOND, Va. – Gov. Mark R. Warner and Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, director of the National Cancer Institute, will join Virginia Commonwealth University officials for the official groundbreaking of the state-of-the-art research addition to the VCU Massey Cancer Center, Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m., 401 College Street, Richmond.

The 60,000 square-foot addition will nearly double the size of the existing VCU Massey Cancer Center and allow the cancer center to expand the type of research it conducts. The VCU Massey Cancer Center is one of only two National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers in Virginia and one of only 61 in the United States.

The construction of the $28.5 million facility is one of more than 120 projects at public college and university campuses across the state to be funded by the General Obligation Bond for Higher Education approved by voters this past November.  VCU will receive $10.1 million from the bond bill for the construction of the addition that will include laboratories for cancer research, offices for staff and a healing garden for cancer center patients and staff.

Joining Gov. Warner and Dr. von Eschenbach in the groundbreaking ceremony will be VCU President Dr. Eugene P. Trani and Massey Cancer Center Director Dr. Gordon D. Ginder.   Hundreds of state dignitaries, volunteers and cancer survivors are expected at the ceremony. 

A tour of state-of-the-art cancer research facilities in the nearby Medical Sciences Building – similar to what will be built in the new addition – will be conducted following the groundbreaking. 

Note to editors: A tour of the research facilities at the Medical Sciences Building also can be made available to reporters and photographers before the groundbreaking.  Please contact Pam Lepley to make arrangements (contact information at top of page).

Parking for media will be available along the north side of Marshall Street in the loading zone between 13th St. and the 12th St. crosswalk.