Columbia, Missouri (KMIZ)

MU Health Care’s Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Colombia is currently working with Siteman Cancer Center St. Louis to improve cancer prevention and cancer research.

Both centers have access to cancer research and resources that mutually benefit each other in the fight to cure cancer.

Many rural areas in the state do not have the best access to cancer treatment. Experts hope that the cancer center collaboration will help identify barriers and develop resources and policies to mitigate them.

Gerhard Hildebrant, Director of Ellis Fischel Cancer Center at MU Health Care, said:

Siteman is the only comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute in the state.

“Siteman is one of the largest and best-ranked cancer centers in the country,” said Hildebrandt. “We have a wide range of clinical trials available for urban and suburban patients.”

MU’s Ellis Fischel has many strengths of its own.

“Ellis Fischel has both research and clinical strengths, and has a very strong veterinary school, such as a veterinary school, that allows research in large animal models,” said Hildebrandt. .

Veterinary schools allow researchers to test large animals instead of rodents. The larger the animals, the more accurately researchers will be able to understand the effects of treatments on humans. MU Health Care said Siteman would benefit from combining its clinical data with mu’s large-scale animal studies.

The collaboration is also working to expand access to clinical trials.

“Some patients find it easier to go to Columbia instead of St. Louis and vice versa,” Hildebrandt said. “We hope that starting trials on both sides will improve access as we can bring the new treatment to more patients.”

The partnership expands access to information about Siteman’s 8 Ways to Prevent Cancer campaign and Your Disease Risk, a tool created by Siteman to help estimate your risk of developing cancer.