Frank Swain Says Recruiting Proven Scientists Is Key to NCI Money

01/27/2010

Frank Swain of Baker & Daniels said the Kansas University Cancer Center's biggest goal would be to recruit scientists in cancer research who have a proven track record of receiving National Cancer Institute (NCI) money, according to the Lawrence Journal World in its story, "KBA Invests $4.3M to Bring Top Researchers to KU."

The cancer center has a goal to bring in $11 million in NCI grants before applying for the designation. "That is what the cancer center has to do to get that critical mass," Swain said in the story.

Swain's comments came before two researchers were officially introduced at the Capitol as part of a ceremony highlighting the Kansas Bioscience Authority's achievements in the past year. Last fall, Rakesh Srivastava joined KU, bringing $3 million in NCI research money to work on developing novel cancer-fighting drugs. In November, KU hired David Volkin, a pharmaceutical scientist and research and development manager to expand the school's Laboratory for Macromolecule and Vaccine Stabilization. The KBA is spending $4.3 million over five years to fund the two positions.