The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center’s reach is growing.
On Nov. 14, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., signed an agreement with Hubei Cancer Hospital, the only cancer hospital in Hubei Province in Central China, to become sister institutions.
The agreement features:
- Research collaboration, including sharing of a tissue bank;
- Exchange of faculty, students and residents; and
- Possible cancer patient referrals to the Buffett Cancer Center.
“This is an important step in the international expansion of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center,” said Kai Fu, M.D., Ph.D., director of UNMC’s Office of International Relations. “Hubei Cancer Hospital is one of the top cancer centers in China.”
Hubei Cancer Hospital is located in Wuhan, China, a city of 8. 8 million people. The 1,600-bed hospital treats all forms of cancer, but specializes in colon/rectal, pancreatic and breast cancer.
“We are honored and excited to sign this agreement with one of the best cancer centers in the world,” said Shaozhong Wei, M.D., Ph.D., president of Hubei Cancer Hospital.
The sister institution agreement marks the second such agreement for the Buffett Cancer Center in China. In 2015, the cancer center entered into a pact with Tianjin Cancer Hospital in Tianjin, China. With 2,500 beds, Tianjin Cancer Hospital is the largest cancer hospital in China and is one of the two national research centers in China.
To put the agreement into perspective, the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center will contain up to 108 beds.
Dr. Fu said UNMC will host a cancer research symposium next May for its two sister institutions in China. In 2015, Tianjin Cancer Hospital hosted the first cancer research symposium involving the three institutions.
“This is a landmark event for UNMC/Nebraska Medicine,” said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Buffett Cancer Center. “Institutions of this size could partner with just about any cancer center in the U.S. For them to pick the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center speaks volumes for the quality of our programs.”
Dr. Cowan said the Buffett Cancer Center will continue to explore the possibility of adding other sister institutions in China.