HUNTSMAN CANCER INSTITUTE
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH

October 31, 2008
Huntsman Cancer Institute Breaks Ground for Expansion of Cancer Hospital
More Space Needed to Treat Patients and Conduct Clinical Research

Salt Lake City—Cancer survivors and friends of Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah today join Jon M. and Karen Huntsman in a celebration of hope at the official groundbreaking of the cancer hospital expansion on October 31 at 11 a.m. In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Huntsman, featured speakers will include Utah State Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., University of Utah President Michael K. Young, Senator Orrin Hatch, President Thomas M. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics CEO David Entwhistle.

The expansion was announced in March. Since then, the architect and builder have been selected—Architectural Nexus and Okland Construction, respectively—and the original plans have been enlarged—from 120,000-square-feet to 156,000 square feet. The expansion will be located to the northeast of the existing hospital building and is scheduled for completion in 2011.

“When we dedicated the first phase of Huntsman Cancer Institute in 1999, we promised that this would only be the beginning of our cancer campus,” Jon M. Huntsman said. “Then we opened the hospital in 2004, and almost immediately it began operating at capacity. We must conquer this terrible disease so that no individual will suffer from cancer again. Through translational research and medicine, we must put this curse behind us like we did polio and small pox. This hospital expansion will provide extra space to serve and heal our patients. We will win this battle.”

Details of the expansion include:

“The University of Utah, and indeed, the entire population of Utah, has been the beneficiary of the Huntsman family’s extraordinary generosity and vision to fight cancer for many years,” said Michael Young, President, University of Utah. “The cancer hospital’s expansion builds upon this heritage, providing the necessary room to grow much needed programs, both in cancer research and in cancer treatment.”

"Research is the hope for improving cancer detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention" said Mary Beckerle, PhD, HCI Executive Director. "The integration of research discoveries with clinical care is at the core of what we want to accomplish at HCI. The expansion of our cancer hospital will allow us to bring healing and hope to more of those in need."

Many of the key speakers will be available for media interviews, along with several cancer patients

Please visit our online newsroom at http://www.hci.utah.edu/aboutUs/newssummary~/media/intro.jsp

About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Established in 1995, Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) serves the needs of cancer patients and their families with research, education, and treatment. HCI is a nationally recognized cancer research center that also offers patient care for all types of cancer, as well as education and outreach for ways to prevent and treat cancer. HCI was founded on the principle of translational research, which means that basic scientists, clinical researchers, and cancer patients are brought together in an environment that allows for rapid translation of laboratory discoveries into effective new treatments in an atmosphere of hope and compassion.

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