Ground has been broken on a new $250 million center that federal, state, local, and healthcare officials believe will offer hope and positive outcomes for Mississippians battling cancer.
Sitting congressional officials, state leaders, local legislators, and representatives of the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) gathered in Jackson to celebrate the early stages of bringing a Cancer Center and Research Institute to fruition. UMMC, the state’s largest hospital system, is advancing plans to construct a five-story, 250,000-square-foot facility in Jackson aimed at addressing cancer care disparities and achieving National Cancer Institute designation.
“We have a real problem here in Mississippi with cancer outcomes,” UMMC vice chancellor of health affairs Dr. LouAnn Woodward said. “Mississippians need the highest level of cancer care and access to the latest clinical trials right here at home.”
The center is the product of years of discussions about building a place in Mississippi where medical professionals can work together under one roof with a unified goal — improve outcomes for those diagnosed with cancer. But the vision for the facility would have remained just that, a vision, without tangible financial support. And donors delivered as the state legislature followed their lead with a large check.
Jackson-based philanthropists Sandy and John Black pledged $25 million to kickstart the project. Other notable donations came from the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation ($10 million), Bower Foundation ($10 million), C Spire ($5 million), and Trustmark Bank ($2 million).
“John and I have been honored with great fortune, and we are honored to give back to our community,” Sandy Black said, with John adding, “We’re so proud to have played a role in the progress so far for this. I give my thanks to the executive branch, legislative leaders of our state government, and also to our congressional leaders. None of this would have happened without you.”
Ground has been broken on UMMC’s $250 million Cancer Center and Research Institute building in Jackson.
The project aims to improve outcomes for Mississippians battling cancer and help the state secure its first National Cancer Institute designation. https://t.co/aSjNqEwc1e
— SuperTalk News (@SuperTalkNews) October 22, 2026
The state legislature cut a $100 million check during the most recent session to bring the project to fruition. Gov. Tate Reeves touted local lawmakers for supporting the vision outlined by Woodward and other UMMC leaders in making Mississippi the home of a groundbreaking cancer research center.
“Here in our state, our world-class people deserve world-class cancer care, and they deserve to receive it right here at home. When someone is fighting cancer, they should be able to focus on getting better, not on traveling hours and hours for treatment,” Reeves said. “This project brings us a massive step closer to accomplishing that goal.”
The UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute is expected to play an essential role in advancing healthcare innovation and improving outcomes through patient care, clinical research, education, and community partnerships. If it earns National Cancer Institute designation, Mississippi will earn that feat before neighboring states Arkansas and Louisiana.
Mississippi ranks in the cellar in cancer mortality rates. According to the state health department, the overall age-adjusted all-cancer mortality rate in Mississippi from 2018-2022 was 179.8 per 100,000 – 23% higher than the national average. Around 16,000 new cancer cases are reported each year in Mississippi, though that figure is expected to rise in 2026, and roughly 6,500 people die from cancer.
Officials did not give a timeline for when the project is expected to be completed.