Designation process The NIH funds cancer centers through a
P30 Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) mechanism. Cancer centers must renew their status with the NIH every 5 years. The NCI considers the certain characteristics essential to a cancer center, and requires that applications address the institutions' resources in the areas of: Physical Space, Organizational Capabilities, Transdisciplinary Collaboration and Coordination, Cancer Focus, Institutional Commitment, Center Director. The NCI also supports
Consortium Centers, wherein scientists and clinicians from multiple institutions enter into formal agreements to expand cancer research programs.
Clinical Cancer Center Clinical Cancer Centers generally conduct a combination of basic, population sciences and clinical research, and are encouraged to stimulate collaborative research involving more than one field of study. Clinical cancer centers may apply for up to $1.4 million per year.
Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers conduct only laboratory research and do not provide patient treatment. Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers are more often affiliated with research institutes rather than universities. They are eligible to apply for up to $1.2 million per year. == List of centers ==