Newswise — The Association of American Cancer Institutes is pleased to welcome its newest member, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) Cancer Institute, in Jackson, MS. Srinivasan Vijayakumar, MD, is the institute’s director.

According to figures from the UMMC Cancer Registry, UMMC Cancer Institute physicians saw 1,977 new cancer patients in 2013-14, and physicians and staff followed 5,967 cancer survivors. Cancer institute members, associates and affiliates received millions of dollars in research funding, resulting in an economic impact of more than $16 million for its community. Cancer training was provided for almost 3,000 students and the institute helped launch the state’s only melanoma clinic.

UMMC Cancer Institute’s mission is to provide patient- and family-focused, multi-disciplinary, state of the art comprehensive cancer care and support services to maximize the outcomes and quality of life for patients and their families; educate oncology professionals to serve as a resource for cancer care throughout Mississippi; support basic, clinical and population cancer research that can be readily translated to the benefit of patients and the community at large; become an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center to further its mission of lowering cancer deaths locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

“We look forward to working with others who share our goal of eliminating cancer,” Vijayakumar said. “Like other AACI members, we are working to prevent cancer, detect it earlier and cure it.”

"AACI welcomes UMMC Cancer Institute’s participation in our leadership network," said AACI Executive Director Barbara Duffy Stewart. "AACI is pleased to have UMMC share in our commitment to developing creative solutions to meet the burgeoning demand for cancer research and patient-centered care of the highest quality and safety."

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The Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) comprises 94 premier academic and freestanding cancer research centers in the United States. AACI is dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer by enhancing the impact of the nation's leading academic cancer centers.