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Government Funding Lapse
Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.

The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov.

Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

History of the NCI Cancer Centers Program

In the early decades of the 20th century, a concerned public was fearful of the still mysterious disease of cancer. Physicians and scientists were drawn to the field by the challenges of the unknown, the opportunities provided by new technology, and the desire to respond to human suffering. The history of cancer research in America begins around the turn of the 20th century with small independent laboratories and eventually becomes an ever-growing network of universities, hospitals and institutes where collaboration, team science, and overarching interdisciplinary projects now drive discoveries that are quickly translated into practical advantages for patients.

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