VCU medical research, Massey Cancer Center get major funding boost

By Mike Porter

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and the VCU Massey Cancer Center both stand to gain funding from a research and development proposal Gov. Mark R. Warner plans to leave with the General Assembly.

Warner announced Wednesday he plans to include $255 million in his upcoming state budget to support research and development facilities and faculty at Virginia’s colleges and universities. The institutions would have to provide a $299 million match, resulting in a $544 million dollar investment.

At VCU, the investment would help support a new medical research building and an expansion and renovation at the Massey Cancer Center, which is already under way.

“This is a historic investment in Virginia’s future, one that can save lives and generate economic growth,” said Warner. “This funding will further our advances in biomedical research and help us lead to potential breakthroughs in treating cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other serious diseases.”

The funding will support cancer research and neurological and metabolic disorders research at VCU, building on efforts by the VCU School of Medicine and the Massey Cancer Center to focus on improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer, neurological diseases, diabetes, obesity and other diseases.

“We’ve got outstanding capacity here in Virginia with exceptional research faculty and clinician-scientists,” said Sheldon Retchin, M.D., vice president for Health Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University and CEO of the VCU Health System. “Together with our colleagues at the major research universities around the commonwealth, we’re making great progress in the laboratory and at the bedside in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and diabetes, as well as in neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

“However, we are confident we can accelerate this progress with prudent investments,” he added.

Retchin served as master of ceremonies for the announcement, which was made at VCU’s Virginia Biotechnology Park.