By Kelley Weiss
Kansas City, MO – The University of Kansas Medical Center is unveiling its research plan involving millions of dollars and collaborations with hospitals across state lines. KCUR's Kelley Weiss has more.
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The KU Medical Center hopes to raise $800 million dollars to focus on cancer, diabetes, brain and reproductive research. The 10-year-plan also calls for more researchers and expanding buildings at the Med Center and Lawrence campuses.
Barbara Atkinson, KU Medical Center's executive vice chancellor and executive dean, says Saint Luke's Hospital, Children's Mercy Hospitals and the Stowers Institute will help with the life sciences initiative.
Barbara Atkinson: "They already have people from all over the city and all those institutions beginning to work together and planning what kind of new talent does this region need."
Atkinson says some tax dollars will pay for the multi-million dollar project and $50 million in state funds will go specifically to cancer research. Philanthropists and the Kansas Bioscience Authority are expected to fund a portion of the plan as well.
Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
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