Medical College of Wisconsin Celebrates Grand Opening of the Center for Cancer Discovery, Heralding a New Era of Cancer Research in Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – August 5, 2025 – Today, the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of its new cancer research facility on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus. The Center for Cancer Discovery (CCD) is a modern state-of-the-art 161,000-square-foot building purposefully designed to serve as a hub for collaboration and innovation that will accelerate cancer research breakthroughs, and its grand opening marks the beginning of a bold new era of cancer research at MCW.

The new Center for Cancer Discovery also represents MCW’s long-term commitment to advancing groundbreaking cancer research and pioneering lifesaving discoveries that aim to decrease the region’s cancer burden and improve clinical outcomes for patients. This is the first and only research facility in eastern Wisconsin solely dedicated to cancer research.

“The Medical College of Wisconsin’s Center for Cancer Discovery reflects our priority to eradicate the cancer burden in Wisconsin, as well as our long-standing promise to tackle cancer’s toughest challenges and ensure progress is felt everywhere, by everyone, and at every step of the cancer journey,” said John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, president and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin. “Today we celebrate not just the completion of a building, but also an opportunity to honor the dedicated scientists, clinicians, and educators whose work sowed the seeds for where we stand today.”

More than 100 guests attended the grand opening, including federal, state, and local elected officials. Remarks were offered by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers; state Representative Robyn Vining, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride participated in today’s ribbon cutting. Partial funding for the more than $150 million project was provided by the state through a $10 million grant from the Wisconsin State Building Commission.

“The Medical College of Wisconsin is a leader in medical innovation, from conducting hundreds of clinical trials to expanding access to care across our rural, urban, and Tribal communities, and MCW’s Cancer Center is a driving force behind that progress,” said Gov. Evers. “This work is only becoming more important, which is why, as a state, we were proud to invest $10 million to support the development of this project in my very first budget as governor, and I look forward to seeing all that this center will bring to Wisconsin and beyond.”

Currently dispersed across multiple locations, the CCD brings all the MCW Cancer Center’s research programs under one roof. Additionally, the building’s open concept design is intended to deepen collaboration among cancer researchers, physician-scientists, and community partners. It is this highly-collaborative approach to research and patient care that makes the latest scientific advancements in cancer treatment available through MCW’s clinical partners – that includes a robust portfolio of more than 220 active cancer clinical trials, the most in Wisconsin.

“The cancer research happening at the Medical College of Wisconsin is bold, collaborative, and life-changing,” said Gustavo Leone, PhD, director of the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center and senior associate dean for cancer research. “Now, anchored by the Center for Cancer Discovery, hundreds of basic, clinical, and population scientists will be located together, allowing for innovative ideas to move from the bench to a patient’s bedside and to the community faster. There’s no doubt this enhanced collaboration, along with cutting-edge technology, will transform cancer care and improve lives for generations to come here in Milwaukee, across Wisconsin, and beyond.”

The Center also includes a first-of-its-kind space on MCW’s campus – the BioHub is a dedicated biotech incubator space designed to facilitate the development of investigator-led start-ups focused on developing breakthrough cancer diagnostics, therapies, and technologies.

With cancer still a leading cause of death in Wisconsin – overall incidence and mortality rates are above the national average and significant disparities in care and outcomes exist among under-resourced populations – the CCD is intended to welcome the community so everyone can see and be a part of the cancer research happening at MCW.

“We’re excited to bring together the brightest minds in cancer research with members of our community because science is stronger when it includes the people it’s meant to serve,” said Dr. Leone. “The Center for Cancer Discovery will be a place where the community can help researchers shape the questions they’re asking, with the answers coming back in the form of stronger prevention, better screening, and patient care.”

Groundbreaking for the CCD was held in September 2022. Relocating the more than 300 scientists and staff who will occupy the new facility is expected to last until October 2025.

The CCD’s project team included Mortenson (construction), CannonDesign (architecture) and Concord Group (owner’s representative).

Facts about the Medical College of Wisconsin Center for Cancer Discovery

· 5 stories; 161,000 square feet designed to maximize collaboration

· 53 labs and 59 offices for investigators leading cancer research studies

· 5,579 square feet available for community use on the lower level, including a 400-person auditorium

· 6 highly specialized shared resources and state-of-the-art equipment to study cancer in a variety of different ways

· $150+ million in total construction costs, supported – in part – by a $10 million grant from the state of Wisconsin

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.