A proposed cancer center in Redwood City, CA (near Palo Alto) would combine patient care and research. The city will receive a formal updated project description, and Stanford Medicine will host two community webinars tonight.
Stanford Medicine’s long legacy of innovation in the fight against cancer — a disease burden that is expected to grow exponentially in the coming decades, particularly in younger people — is poised to become even more pivotal.
Community Webinars on Wednesday June 10
English (5:30-6:30 pm PDT)
Spanish (7:00-8:00 pm PDT)
Stanford’s bold vision for expanding its commitment to cancer innovation and care with an integrated clinical care and research center in Redwood City will take an important step forward this week as it submits its formal updated project description to the city and hosts informational community webinars. Stanford Medicine is dedicated to ensuring that the Redwood City updated project embodies its community-first values and engagement approach. Two community webinars will be held virtually the evening of June 10. The first, in English, will be from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The second, in Spanish, will be from 7-8 p.m. The proposed new center would integrate expertise from across the university and health system to advance cutting-edge patient-centered care and research on the West Coast — all in one central Bay Area location right off Highway 101 in Redwood City. “By co-locating world-class research and cancer care, we will accelerate advances that predict, prevent, treat, and cure cancers, while supporting patients and families from prevention through survivorship,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, the Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at Stanford University.
Transforming the Patient Experience
This new global research and treatment hub would include a hospital, clinic, and research facilities all connected by skyways — allowing for clinical trial findings to be applied in real-life patient care settings right next door. Working side by side, scientists and doctors would be able to learn from each other and from each patient, creating a powerful feedback loop to continuously improve care while driving the future of cancer care and research.
“At Stanford Medicine, we recognize the need for the highest-quality care wherever a patient may be on their journey, and we know how critical it is to be able to access that care close to home,” said David Entwistle, president and CEO of Stanford Health Care. “Our vision is to bring the world’s best experts together in a state-of-the-art center to revolutionize how cancer patients are treated and support the health and healing of Bay Area communities.”
The updated project would utilize land on the existing Stanford Redwood City campus and adjacent to the Stanford Health Care Outpatient Center, allowing for integration of the cancer center within a campus setting. The updated project reflects Stanford Health Care’s commitment to sustainability, placing environmental stewardship, health and well-being, and long-term resilience at the core of its mission.
“With this center’s bench-to-bedside-and-back-again approach to cancer treatment, it will facilitate insights and discoveries that will transform care — including for our youngest pediatric patients,” said Paul King, CEO of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
An Unprecedented Moment
Four new cancer cases are diagnosed every minute in the U.S. — with a surge in those in their 20s and 30s — and Stanford Medicine’s cancer patient population is predicted to double over the next decade. As cancer treatments improve, more survivors require long-term follow-up care. And as cancer treatments become increasingly sophisticated, involving multiple specialists and types of therapies, patients need more support navigating the complex landscape as they determine which treatments, clinical trials, or services are best for their individual needs.
“New cancer cases are projected to increase 77% between 2022 and 2050,” said Steve Artandi, MD, PhD, the Laurie Kraus Lacob Director of the Stanford Cancer Institute. “Stanford’s expertise spans all aspects of cancer research, from genomic research to immunotherapy trials to prevention studies. This center brings that breadth of world-class science together under one roof for the benefit of patients locally and globally.”
Stanford Medicine leaders believe the new research capabilities will be the real game-changer for patients. Among the initiatives planned:
● Precision treatments tailored to each patient’s cancer genome
● Stanford-developed liquid biopsy testing to monitor treatment response and detect recurrence early
● AI-powered insights to unlock new discoveries
● New vaccines to treat and eventually prevent cancers
● First-in-class drugs for previously “undruggable” targets
● Powerful new immunotherapies that work against solid tumors
● Breakthrough therapies for late-stage, hard-to-treat cancers
● Improved access to clinical trials
“We have the ability to bring research directly into the clinics and hospital — then learn from it, improve it and bring it back it again,” said Timothy Morrison, senior vice president of Stanford Medicine Cancer Center. “And then the hope is that it doesn’t just stay here in Redwood City. Our goal is that what we learn here can be transferred around the globe to help other people with cancer, help other care providers learn from us, and make sure we’re bringing that kind of cancer discovery and innovation to everyone who needs it.”
Community Webinars on Wednesday June 10 (5:30-6:30 pm PDT)
Stanford Medicine is dedicated to ensuring that the Redwood City updated project embodies its community-first values and engagement approach. Two community webinars will be held virtually the evening of June 10. The first, in English, will be from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The second, in Spanish, will be from 7-8 p.m.
About Stanford Medicine
Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems. Together, they harness the full potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education and clinical care for patients. For more information, please visit med.stanford.edu.