Stanford Medicine's long legacy of innovation in the fight against cancer - a disease burden that is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades - is poised to become even more pivotal.
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.
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.
Guiding principles
- Drive discovery: Build on Stanford's history and set a new global standard
- Connect innovators: Expand capacity for innovation and share cancer expertise
- Educate future leaders: Integrate research, care, and education
- Transform treatment: Deliver research and patient care in one setting
- Expand care: Increase access to innovative care and clinical trials
- Align on shared community values: Strengthen relationship with neighbors
"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 connected by skyways - allowing 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."
Updated project proposal
Driven by the guiding principles outlined above, the proposal calls for 1.75 million square feet of cancer-focused facilities in buildings up to 10 stories or 175 feet in height, adding 1.17 million square feet to previously approved square footage, including:
- Cancer hospital: State-of-the-art facility providing inpatient care with up to 470 beds
- Clinic building: A multidisciplinary outpatient clinic building connected to existing services for coordinated cancer care
- Research building: An engine for breakthrough discoveries with connections to patient care
- Supporting infrastructure: Additional structures including an amenity building, ample parking, and a central energy hub
- Improved connectivity: Improved pedestrian circulation and patient drop-off experience with Hurlingame Avenue extension between Bay Road and Broadway
- Enhanced greenway: Extended greenway with connections to Broadway and Bay, creating a more focused, impactful pedestrian experience through the campus
- Local employment: An estimated increase of 3,200-3,700 jobs that will be added over the life of the updated project, resulting in a total of approximately 6,900 to 7,400 people employed at the Stanford Redwood City campus
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 wellbeing, 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 an unexpected rise in young adults - 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.
"Globally, new cancer cases are projected to increase 77% between 2022 and 2050," said Steven 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 in 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 across 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."
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 to 6:30 p.m. The second, in Spanish, will be from 7 to 8 p.m.
