UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center Earns NCI Redesignation
Comprehensive status from the National Cancer Institute is renewed, affirming the Center’s leadership in cancer care and research
Friday, September 25, 2026
The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center has once again achieved the highest recognition from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), earning redesignation as an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center. This elite status, awarded every five years through a rigorous and highly competitive process, places UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center among the nation’s top 3.8% cancer centers and remains the only center in New Mexico that is designated by the NCI. The NCI Cancer Centers are part of a national network of cancer centers that have a shared mission to continuously drive discovery and innovation in cancer prevention, diagnostics, treatments and patient-centered care.
“This redesignation reflects the extraordinary dedication of our faculty and staff to our mission to provide world-class cancer care, offer access to cutting-edge clinical trials, conduct groundbreaking research, train the cancer workforce and leaders of tomorrow, and engage the diverse communities that we serve,” said Yolanda Sanchez, PhD, Director and CEO of the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Together, we are ensuring that all New Mexicans have access to the specialized cancer care available only at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.”
Comprehensive designation is the highest designation the NCI awards to cancer centers in the United States. To earn it, UNM Cancer Center underwent an intensive review by national experts. The evaluation assessed every aspect of the Center’s work, including patient care outcomes, clinical trials, laboratory and population-based research, statewide outreach, education and workforce development, and the Center’s impact on making cancer care accessible for all New Mexicans.
UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center serves as the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and provides care for more than 51% of New Mexico’s cancer patients from across the state.
“This achievement is a testament to the strength of our Health Sciences mission and the collaborative efforts that make the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center a cornerstone of cancer care and research,” said Michael Richards, MD, MPA, Executive Vice President for UNM Health Sciences and CEO of the UNM Health System. “The Center’s work in prevention, treatment, and education is vital to improving health outcomes across our state.”
“Renewal of our National Cancer Institute designation is a powerful affirmation of the world-class care, research innovation, and compassion that define the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center,” said UNM President Steve Goldstein. "It means that every New Mexican, no matter where they live in our state, can count on access to the very best in cancer treatment and hope close to home.”
The Grant
The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health supports the grant reported in this publication under Award Number P30CA118100, Principal Investigator: Yolanda Sanchez. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center
The UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center is the official cancer center of New Mexico, and the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in a 500-mile radius. Its 136 clinical faculty include cancer surgeons in every specialty, adult and pediatric hematologists/medical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists and radiation oncologists. They, along with more than 600 other cancer healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, navigators, psychologists and social workers), provide treatment to more than 51% of New Mexico’s cancer patients from all across the state. They also partner with community health systems statewide to provide cancer clinical trials and care closer to home. In FY2026, they treated more than 14,000 patients in more than 105,000 ambulatory clinic visits, in addition to in-patient hospitalizations at UNM Hospital. A total of 1,845 patients participated in 189 cancer clinical trials to study new cancer treatments that include tests of novel cancer prevention strategies and cancer genome sequencing. The 123 cancer research faculty affiliated with the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center were awarded $30.5 million in federal and private grants and contracts for cancer research projects in 2025. Since 2020, the physicians, scientists and staff have provided education and training experiences to more than 750 high school, undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral fellowship students in cancer research and cancer health care delivery. UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center maintains strong community partnerships to ensure active community engagement in establishing research priorities to address differences in cancer health outcomes. Through its basic, translational, clinical and cancer delivery research, which is focused on New Mexico’s unique populations, the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center helps to improve cancer prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship for patients across the nation.
To learn more about the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center visit our website, or call the UNM Cancer Center Clinic at 505-272-4946.
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