Cancer Center

Walter Dalton views his Chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee as something more than allocating state funds. It is a real opportunity to inject vision and foresight into our state’s budget and ensure that our tax dollars are being wisely spent. Walter Dalton led the fight for the landmark appropriation to the UNC Cancer Center in the 2007 budget. It was a visionary move that will save lives, improve quality of life, create jobs, and establish our state as the leader in the fight against cancer.
Just as the General Assembly’s 2005 funding of the NC Cancer Hospital is bringing an outstanding new clinical facility to the citizens of North Carolina, this funding would allow UNC to become a national and international leader in cancer research while at the same time serving North Carolina patients, and expanding the state’s economy. Here are the highlights:

• The budget would establish a University Cancer Research Fund of $25 million in 2007-2008, $40 million in 2008-2009, before reaching a permanent level of $50 million in 2009-2010.
• This money will transform cancer research and the University of North Carolina’s clinical and public health efforts to prevent, detect early, and treat cancers across the entire state.
• It will serve North Carolina through research in three broad areas: a statewide cancer assessment and prevention program; groundbreaking basic and translational research; and multidisciplinary clinical care and research teams.
• Expand our state’s economy by adding high quality, high paying medical field employment opportunities and through research and development investments.