More than 300 people gathered at the East Campus construction site for the Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new $100 million facility on Nov. 8.
Among those digging the first few shovels of dirt were University of California President Richard C. Atkinson, Chancellor Robert C. Dynes and UC Board of Regents Chair and principal contributor John Moores. Moores and his wife, Rebecca, donated $20 million towards the construction of the 270,000-foot project.
Rainy weather conditions on the day of the event forced organizers to hold the ceremony inside a makeshift tent. The bad weather, however, did not deter the high spirits of the proud university officials.
“”In most parts of the country, a foggy and rainy day like today would be an ominous sign,”” Atkinson said. “”But in San Diego, where we never have rain, I think this is the best forecast we could have for the future of our city.””
Atkinson, who played an integral part in the cancer center’s development as both UCSD’s chancellor and the UC president, reflected on the history of the center’s progress.
“”When I came to UCSD in 1980 as the chancellor, there was a long list of issues to be dealt with and at the top of the list was the newly established cancer center,”” Atkinson said. “”Today we are realizing a dream that has very much been the focus of the university for some number of years.””
Dynes also spoke about the university’s efforts to develop a cancer center in a community that has made biological advancements a staple to its community. Today, San Diego houses more than 200 biotechnology companies as well as research entities such as the Burnham Center for Cancer Research, The Scripps Research Institute and the Salk Institute.
“”Over the past 20 years, San Diego emerged as a center for scientific fruition and has since had a phenomenal record in biotechnology and life sciences,”” Dynes said. “”We in San Diego have shared this dream that UCSD deserved a world-class cancer research center.””
The UCSD Cancer Center was founded in 1979 and did not establish a central operating location until 1983 when the Gildred Cancer Center was opened in Hillcrest. Since then, it has attained the NCI’s highest designation as a comprehensive cancer center, meaning that it provides outpatient, educational and outreach services in addition to clinical research.
The new cancer center facility, to be completed in the fall of 2004, will be part of a science park to be located on East Campus. Atkinson said that the goal of the science park is to provide “”a close interaction with corporate divisions, their scientists and the scientists at the university.””
The new building, to be constructed by McCarthy Building Companies, will be located southeast of the UCSD Thornton Hospital on East Campus. The state-of-the-art facility will be comprised of two structures, a three-story clinical service and administrative facility, and a five-story research tower housing the Katzin Research Laboratories.
David Tarin, director of the UCSD Cancer Center, said that he is very optimistic that the new facility will host some of the world’s most significant advancements against cancer.
“”This building will enable the UCSD Cancer Center to make a landmark contribution to that noble cause,”” Tarin said. “”We will conquer this disease.””
