For families facing a cancer diagnosis, access to the best possible care isn’t just important — it’s everything.

In many parts of the country, that kind of care requires traveling long distances. In Michigan, thousands of patients can receive advanced treatment close to home thanks to the work at Wayne State University and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

As Detroit’s only National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Karmanos is part of a select group of institutions nationwide recognized for scientific leadership, clinical excellence and the ability to translate research into patient care.

That designation reflects the institute’s success in securing federal research funding to support breakthrough work in areas such as:

  • Immunotherapy, which helps the body’s immune system fight cancer
  • Precision medicine, tailoring treatments based on a patient’s genetic profile
  • Cancer prevention and population health, improving outcomes across communities

 

Through its Cancer Biology Program, researchers are studying how cancer develops and spreads at the molecular level — work that leads directly to new therapies and treatment strategies.

For patients, this research translates into access.

Karmanos offers hundreds of clinical trials, giving Michiganders early access to innovative treatments that may not yet be widely available. That means patients can receive leading-edge care without leaving the state, reducing costs, stress and barriers to treatment.

At the same time, the institute plays a major role in Detroit’s economic growth.

Federal research funding supports:

  • Highly skilled jobs for scientists, clinicians and technicians
  • Partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies
  • Expansion of Detroit’s life sciences and medical research ecosystem

 

Karmanos also serves as a training ground for the next generation of healthcare professionals and researchers, helping retain talent in Michigan and strengthening the state’s long-term competitiveness in the health sector.

It is not just a hospital or a research center. It is a model for how federal research investment can deliver both better health outcomes and stronger communities.

For Michigan families, that means access to life-saving care. For the state, it means building a competitive edge in one of the country’s fastest-growing industries.

Discover how Michigan’s research universities are solving real problems across the state: