KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The University of Kansas is set to break ground Friday on a state-of-the-art $450 million cancer center, a project designed to transform cancer research, treatment, and prevention in the region.

After three years of intensive fundraising, the university has secured $250 million through a mix of private donations and state and federal funding. The ambitious facility will eventually consolidate researchers, lab equipment, and clinical staff from more than a dozen separate locations, streamlining operations and accelerating innovation in cancer care.

Construction will occur in phases in the area surrounding 39th Avenue and Rainbow Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas — a corridor that already houses major components of the University of Kansas Medical Center campus.

“This facility is critical,” said a spokesperson for the university. “We’re unifying teams and technologies under one roof, which will significantly boost collaboration and patient care.”

The need for such a center has never been greater. According to the university, one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime — a sobering statistic that underscores the urgency of enhanced research infrastructure. Moreover, global cancer incidence is expected to climb to 29.5 million cases annually over the next 15 years, driven by an aging population and environmental risk factors.

Once completed, the new KU Cancer Center will not only provide cutting-edge treatment and clinical trials but also serve as a national hub for cancer research. It will support the center’s recent efforts to gain comprehensive designation from the National Cancer Institute, the highest status a cancer center can achieve in the U.S.

The ceremonial groundbreaking will take place at 4 p.m. on Friday, drawing state and local leaders, medical professionals, donors, and advocates. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is expected to attend alongside a host of dignitaries and university officials.

“This marks a major milestone not only for KU but for every Kansan touched by cancer,” said one university official. “The research and care that will happen here could change lives across the country.”

The university has not yet announced an expected completion date, but officials say the project’s multi-phase development will allow for flexibility and growth as new technologies and needs emerge.

Originally reported by Alyssa Mueller in Fox 4 News.