The University of Mississippi Medical Center is set to receive $100 million from the state to construct a new cancer center.
UMMC, the state’s only academic medical center, announced plans in January 2025 for a five-story, 250,000-plus square foot Cancer Center and Research Institute building. At a cost of $250 million, the project is aimed at helping Mississippi secure its first National Cancer Institute designation.
Through more than a year of private fundraising, UMMC has made significant progress. Earlier this week, it was announced that 80% of its $125 million capital campaign has been reached with $100 million coming from the private sector. Major donations have come from Sandy and John Black ($25 million), Gertrude C. Ford Foundation ($10 million), Bower Foundation ($10 million), and C Spire ($5 million).
Lawmakers, who are working to finalize the appropriation and budgeting process for Fiscal Year 2027, are bridging the gap with $100 million through capital expenditure funds. The bill that includes UMMC’s allocation has passed both chambers and is expected to soon be sent to Gov. Tate Reeves.
“I’m very grateful that it appears UMMC is going to get $100 million (from the state) to build the cancer center that is going to be a legacy item for everyone. It’s going to help Mississippians,” Sen. Daniel Sparks, R-Belmont, said Wednesday morning.
“UMMC didn’t just show up with their hand out and say, ‘Hey, we need some money.’ They’ve already raised $100 million or more for this project, so if you want to talk about skin in the game, they have it,” he explained as to why lawmakers are choosing to help fund the project.
Sens. Briggs Hopson, R-Vicksburg, and Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, previously confirmed lawmakers are allocating “significant” funding to the center. Both have influential roles in the appropriations and budgeting process, with Hopson serving as Senate Appropriations chair and Harkins as Senate Finance chair.
The new cancer center will be constructed adjacent to UMMC’s main campus in Jackson and will expand cancer treatment, research, and patient care in a state with some of the nation’s worst cancer outcomes, including the highest cancer mortality rate. Nearly 16,000 Mississippians are diagnosed each year – a number expected to rise to around 18,000 in 2026, according to the American Cancer Society – and about 6,500 die from the disease annually.
“In Mississippi, we have the worst cancer outcomes in the country. And if you’re a Black male living in the Delta, you have the worst cancer outcomes in the known world. That’s a tragedy,” Sparks said.
UMMC officials have said throughout the fundraising campaign that the facility will expand access to advanced therapies and clinical trials while improving coordination of care, allowing more patients to receive treatment closer to home rather than having to travel out of state.
“A new, five-story, 250,000+ square foot building will hold state-of-the-art facilities designed to deliver cutting-edge care and foster groundbreaking research, which includes clinical trials. The new facility is designed to provide a welcoming, interdisciplinary space that enhances patient and family care, improve access and offers a seamless health care experience,” reads a description of the new center on UMMC’s website.
UMMC officials did not respond for a request for comment by the time of publication.
The bill that includes UMMC’s allocation also includes money for the University of Southern Mississippi’s science research fund ($30 million) and Mississippi State University’s veterinary school ($32 million), among other expenditures.