The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, commonly known as MD Anderson Cancer Center, is located in Houston, Texas. Recognized as the largest cancer treatment and research facility globally, it is among the original trio of NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. Situated within the Texas Medical Center (TMC)—the largest medical hub and life sciences destination worldwide—MD Anderson is both an academic institution offering degrees and a center for cancer care and research. Consistently rated as the top hospital for cancer care and research across the U.S. and internationally, MD Anderson has achieved the #1 spot in U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals rankings for cancer care 20 times over the past 23 years. As of 2023, it leads the world in the number of cancer clinical trials conducted and has secured more NCI-funded projects than any other American institution. In 2024, Newsweek honored MD Anderson with the top position in their annual list of the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for oncology.
History
Monroe Dunaway Anderson was concerned that his company might face substantial estate taxes and potentially be dissolved if one of the partners passed away. To mitigate this risk, Anderson established the MD Anderson Foundation with an initial contribution of $300,000. Following Anderson's death in 1939, the foundation's assets grew by an additional $19 million.
In 1941, the Texas Legislature allocated $500,000 to construct a cancer hospital and research center. The Anderson Foundation offered to match this funding on the condition that the hospital be built in Houston, within the Texas Medical Center—a project also supported by the foundation—and that it be named in Anderson's honor.
The Texas Medical Center, established in 1945, owes much of its development to the M.D. Anderson Foundation, which contributed substantial financial resources and land. This effort, along with the creation of the M.D. Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research, set the stage for the future growth of what is now recognized as the largest medical center globally.
The hospital initially operated for a decade in surplus World War II Army barracks and a converted residence, with 46 beds leased from a Houston hospital. In 1954, it relocated to its current site in the Texas Medical Center, which enabled considerable growth and the establishment of advanced facilities. During the 1960s and 1970s, the center further expanded its research capabilities and enhanced its patient care services.
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Organization
The MD Anderson Cancer Center operates as a nonprofit entity within The University of Texas System. However, some for-profit partnerships have led to questions regarding the center's underlying motives.
Education & training
MD Anderson functions as an independent university within the University of Texas System, offering postdoctoral fellowships, medical internships, and residency programs. These opportunities are tailored for individuals holding Ph.D., M.D., or M.D./Ph.D. degrees, as well as other medical professionals engaged in basic and translational sciences, or clinical practice. The primary goal is to train future scientists and medical experts in cancer research and care.
The institution provides a wide array of residency and fellowship programs in various specialties, including cancer treatment, diagnostics, and complex surgeries. MD Anderson also grants M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, along with dual M.D./Ph.D. degrees, to students enrolled in The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, which it jointly operates with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Fields of study encompass biochemistry, cell biology, cancer biology, genetics, epigenetics, immunology, medical physics, microbiology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, quantitative sciences, and therapeutics and pharmacology.
In addition to this, the institution offers bachelor's and master's degree programs through The UT MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions. The areas of study here include clinical laboratory science, cytogenetic technology, cytotechnology, diagnostic imaging, diagnostic medical sonography, healthcare disparities, diversity and advocacy, histotechnology, medical dosimetry, molecular genetic technology, diagnostic genetics, radiological sciences, and radiation therapy.
Recognition
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has consistently held the top spot as the world's leading hospital in oncology care and research. U.S. News & World Report has ranked MD Anderson as the #1 institution in cancer care for the 2024-2025 period, marking the tenth consecutive year that it has maintained this position, which it has held since 2014. Additionally, MD Anderson ranks first in the number of National Cancer Institute grants and invested $1.2 billion in research during FY 2023. The cancer center has also received Magnet Nursing recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Furthermore, Asbestos.com named MD Anderson the #1 Most High-Tech Cancer Hospital in America in 2024.
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In May 1996, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) designated the Pain Research Group at MD Anderson as the Collaborating Center for Supportive Cancer Care. The terms of reference for this center involve MD Anderson in the development of palliative care programs across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Presidents
Throughout its history, MD Anderson has been led by five different full-time presidents.
- R. Lee Clark, M.D. (1946–1978)
- Charles LeMaistre, M.D. (1978–1996)
- John Mendelsohn, M.D. (1996–2011)
- Ronald DePinho, M.D. (2011–2017)
- Peter W. T. Pisters, M.D. (2017–present)
Locations and campuses
Texas Medical Center (TMC) in Houston, Texas
Situated within Houston's Texas Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center is part of what is often called a "Medical Mini-City." This center, the world's largest hub for medical and life sciences, boasts one of the highest concentrations of clinical facilities dedicated to patient care, basic science, and translational research.
The MD Anderson campus is organized into three distinct areas: North Campus, Mid Campus, and South Campus. The North Campus features several important buildings and facilities. These include the Main Building, which consists of Alkek Hospital, Bates-Freeman Building, Clark Clinic, Gimbel Building, Jones Research Building, LeMaistre Clinic, Love Clinic, and Lutheran Hospital Pavilion. Additional facilities on the North Campus are the Dan L. Duncan Building, Clinical Research Building, Faculty Center, Mays Clinic, Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building, Pickens Academic Tower, Radiology Outpatient Center, and Rotary House International. The T. Boone Pickens Academic Tower, a 21-story structure spanning 730,000 square feet (68,000 m²), opened in 2008. Named after T. Boone Pickens, who made a generous donation to the cancer center, this building contains classrooms, conference rooms, and offices for executives and faculty
The MD Anderson Cancer Center's Houston campus is home to a variety of specialized institutes that bolster its comprehensive cancer care approach. These include the James P. Allison Institute, focused on advancing immunotherapy, and the Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment, which concentrates on cancer prevention and risk analysis. Also part of the campus are the Institute for Applied Cancer Science, driving the transformation of scientific discoveries into new therapies, the Institute for Cancer Care Innovation, aimed at enhancing cancer care delivery and outcomes, the Institute for Data Science in Oncology, which utilizes big data for cancer research, and the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, which customizes treatments based on genetic and molecular profiles.
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The South Campus features the McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer, a facility that includes seven translational research centers focused on areas such as genomics, proteomics, screening, diagnostic imaging, and drug development. On the other hand, the Mid Campus building, a 25-story structure designed to support current office space and accommodate future growth, was opened in 2011.
In 2023, MD Anderson Cancer Center commenced the construction of a new 600,000-square-foot facility within the Helix Park at Texas Medical Center (TMC), intended to become the centerpiece of the institution’s expansive south campus research park. This new building will house several strategic research programs, including the newly established James P. Allison Institute. Additionally, the TMC3 Collaborative Building in Helix Park is set to host commercial life sciences companies, industry leaders, and the TMC Venture Fund.
MD Anderson Cancer Center is one of the four founding institutions of the Helix Park campus at the Texas Medical Center. At the TMC Helix Park, healthcare professionals, academics, and business leaders work together to create new medicines, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health platforms, and treatment solutions, thereby speeding up the discovery and delivery of life-changing innovations. The TMC3 Helix Park hotel offers accommodations for life science researchers, industry executives, and venture capitalists, contributing to Houston's goal of becoming a global leader in life sciences and human health. The economic impact of TMC Helix Park is projected to be $5.4 billion.
MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital
The MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, part of the MD Anderson Cancer Center network, provides care to infants, children, teens, and young adults, including those up to 29 years old through their Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer program. Situated on the 9th floor of the main building at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, this hospital focuses on pediatric oncology.
MD Anderson Cancer Center Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy
In 2011, a significant donation of $150 million was made by the President of the United Arab Emirates to the MD Anderson Cancer Center. This generous contribution led to the establishment of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, named in honor of the UAE president's father, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who had governed the UAE for over three decades before his passing in 2004. The institute is dedicated to research and clinical trials that focus on analyzing a patient’s tumor biopsy to identify abnormal genes, enabling doctors to select treatments that specifically target those genes to combat cancer effectively. The MD Anderson Zayed Building for Personalized Cancer Care, located on the MD Anderson Cancer Center campus within the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, houses this advanced research. Additionally, the center encompasses the Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy and the Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Emiratis have the opportunity to benefit from scholarships offered by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, allowing them to pursue fellowships, residency programs, postgraduate studies, and observerships at the center. Khalifa Scholars, selected from faculty-level physicians and researchers at MD Anderson, receive financial assistance equivalent to one to two years' salary to support their independent research endeavors. The Zayed Building was honored with the 2016 R&D Magazine Lab of the Year Award for its contributions to cancer research.
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James P. Allison Institute at MD Anderson Cancer Center
The James P. Allison Institute, named after Nobel laureate James P. Allison, was founded to harness the complete potential of cancer immunotherapy. Allison, a Professor and Chair of Immunology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, was awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine alongside Tasuku Honjo for their groundbreaking discovery of cancer therapy through the inhibition of negative immune regulation. Situated within the Helix Park area on the south campus of MD Anderson Cancer Center, part of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, the institute has also received a $5 million commitment from the Timken Foundation to support its mission.
Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Howard Meyers generously contributed $25 million to create the Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. This pioneering institute in the United States focuses on advancing oncology nursing care and research. Through specialized education, training, and groundbreaking research efforts, the institute aims to greatly enhance patient outcomes.
Other locations in greater Houston metropolitan area
MD Anderson has multiple locations throughout the Greater Houston, Texas region. These locations include:
- Located on the University of Texas Medical Branch League City campus, MD Anderson League City offers a range of specialized services. These specialties include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, dermatology and skin cancer, endocrine cancer, genitourinary cancer, gynecologic cancer, head and neck cancer, neurologic cancer, and thoracic cancer.
- Located on the St. Luke's Sugar Land Hospital campus, MD Anderson Sugar Land offers a range of specialties. These include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, dermatology and skin cancer, endocrine cancer, thoracic cancer, neurologic cancer, genitourinary cancer, and gynecologic cancer.
- MD Anderson West Houston offers expertise in a variety of cancers including breast, colorectal, and skin cancers. Their specialties also cover endocrine, head and neck, and thoracic cancers, as well as neurologic, genitourinary, gynecologic cancers, and urology.
- The Woodlands campus of St. Luke's The Woodlands Hospital hosts MD Anderson. Their areas of expertise encompass various cancers, including breast, colorectal, and skin cancer, as well as endocrine, head and neck, thoracic, neurologic, genitourinary, and gynecologic cancers.
- Located on the Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center campus, MD Anderson Surgical Clinic Memorial City provides surgical consultation for various cancer types. The clinic specializes in diagnosing and surgically treating breast cancer, gynecologic cancer, thoracic cancer, head and neck cancer, urologic cancer, neurologic cancer, as well as offering expertise in plastic surgery and reconstruction.
- The Gynecologic Oncology Clinic at MD Anderson, located within the Texas Medical Center on The Woman's Hospital of Texas campus, offers specialized treatment for gynecological cancers. This center addresses a range of conditions including cervical cancer, fallopian tube cancer, endometrial (uterine) cancer, vaginal cancer, ovarian cancer, vulvar cancer, gynecologic sarcomas, gestational trophoblastic disease, pre-invasive diseases of the lower genital tract, and primary peritoneal cancer.
- In League City, Texas, a newly constructed facility became the new home for the MD Anderson Bay Area location in September 2018, thanks to a partnership with The University of Texas Medical Branch.
Expansion to Austin, Texas
On August 14, 2023, the University of Texas System unveiled its intention to construct a new MD Anderson Cancer Center in Austin, Texas, at the present location of the Frank Erwin Center, next to the University of Texas at Austin campus. A new UT Austin teaching hospital will also be developed nearby in conjunction with the new center. The demolition of the Erwin Center is expected to finish in 2024, with construction for the new hospitals anticipated to begin in 2026.
MD Anderson Cancer Center Africa Initiative
Launched in September 2022, the Africa Initiative by MD Anderson Cancer Center is part of its Global Oncology Program and focuses on alleviating cancer impacts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through extensive education, training, and joint research efforts. A prominent component of this program is Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), which utilizes case-based learning and videoconferencing to boost the capabilities of healthcare professionals in LMICs, with a special emphasis on cancer prevention, control, and treatment. Moreover, the Palliative Care in Africa (PACA) initiative links experts and providers across various African countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia, aiming to enhance palliative care for patients with advanced cancer through regular teleconferences and training sessions. This effort highlights MD Anderson’s dedication to global health by promoting international partnerships and advancing capacity building in resource-limited areas.
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MD Anderson Services Corporation
In 1989, MD Anderson Services Corporation[105] (previously known as MD Anderson Cancer Center Outreach Corporation[106]) was founded as a non-profit entity. Its purpose was to boost the financial resources of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center by forming partnerships in targeted markets, increasing referrals to the institution, securing contracts for inpatient and outpatient care, utilizing the reference laboratory services of UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, and promoting further charitable contributions in remote regions.
Accommodation for patients
The MD Anderson Cancer Center fully owns and operates the Jesse H. Jones Rotary House International, a comprehensive hotel managed by Marriott International.[108] This establishment is exclusively aimed at accommodating the needs of patients and their families visiting MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. Moreover, several additional hotels are situated within walking distance from the MD Anderson Cancer Center on the Texas Medical Center (TMC) campus. These hotels are run by a range of global hospitality brands, such as Marriott, DoubleTree by Hilton, Westin, and Hyatt, among others.
Children's Art Project at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Children's Art Project is designed to let young cancer patients channel their creativity through artistic endeavors. Launched in 1973, this program has turned children's artwork into various products, including greeting cards, clothing, and home decorations. These creations are sold to fund initiatives that support cancer research, patient care, and programs focused on patients. By offering a creative outlet for the children, the project not only aids in their emotional well-being but also helps generate funds for the cancer center's efforts.
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