In 1985, under the leadership of Dr. Paul Bunn, we began development of a statewide consortium
cancer center, with seven participating institutions, called the University of Colorado Cancer Center. 
NCI-Designation
In 25 years, the CU Cancer Center has grown to a comprehensive cancer center with a consortium designation from the National Cancer Institute. We received our first five-year NCI cancer center support grant in 1987 as a clinical cancer center and our comprehensive designation in 1997. NCI awarded a formal consortium designation in 2005. Our consortium members include three state universities and six cancer care and research institutions located throughout Colorado.
Members
The CU Cancer Center initially included full and associate members from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, National Jewish Health, University of Colorado Hospital, Denver Health, Denver Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, and Children's Hospital Colorado.
In 2005, the latter merged with the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and its researchers became faculty. Cancer researchers from University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University and Kaiser Permanente Colorado joined the CU Cancer Center later to complete the current consortia configuration.
Shared Resources
The CU Cancer Center supports our 13 Shared Resources at the University of Colorado Denver, National Jewish Health, Colorado State University and the University of Colorado Boulder, which are used extensively by members at all sites.
Where we're headed
On July 1, 2010, the CU Cancer Center welcomed its second director, Dr. Dan Theodorescu.
Today, the CU Cancer Center continues to be the only NCI-designated cancer center in Colorado, and its researchers are innovative in the development of more effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of cancer and the deployment of such therapies throughout the state.