For Immediate Release
April 4, 2009

BUFFALO – The New York State Health Budget, which was approved Thursday, April 2, restored $14.5 million to Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), narrowing a $34 million budget gap that would have resulted from the Governor's initial budget proposal.

"This is certainly very good news for Roswell Park," said Donald L. Trump, MD, President & CEO, RPCI. "I am grateful to Governor Paterson, our elected State legislators, especially Senators Bill Stachowski and Antoine Thompson, and the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Richard Daines, for once again demonstrating their support of our mission and vision. We also must thank the thousands of Roswell Park faculty and staff as well as community leaders and others who lent their support in advocating to our elected officials about the importance of Roswell Park for the health and economic vitality of our region. Over 2700 postcards, written by faculty, staff and citizens, were delivered to the Governor's office affirming their support of Roswell Park and its mission."

While the restoration of funding is welcomed news for America's first cancer center, the announcement, cautions Dr. Trump, must be tempered by "existing economic realities."

In a memo distributed to RPCI staff and faculty on Friday, April 3, 2009, Dr. Trump wrote: "We must remember that substantial budget challenges remain. We still face a more than $20 million deficit in FY2010 (April 1, 2009 to March 30, 2010), a deficit attributable to increased contractual labor costs as well as assessments and taxes placed on health care institutions."

In view of the state and national economic crisis, which is projected to continue through at least 2011, Dr. Trump explained that RPCI "must remain fiscally responsible" and explore all other promising revenue streams, particularly those that generate new positions and opportunities.

For example, Roswell Park will compete aggressively for National Institutes of Health funding available through the Federal stimulus package. "I am excited to report that through the efforts of our investigators, we are on pace to submit more than 100 new research funding applications to the National Cancer Institute over the next three months." said Dr. Trump.

Roswell Park's President & CEO said that he will be dedicating his efforts to implementing the Institute's strategic plan, which was recently approved by its Board of Directors. "This plan will allow us to strengthen key research areas that hold the greatest promise in advancing our understanding of cancer, developing new preventive and curative approaches, and providing the highest quality cancer care to the patients of Western New York and throughout New York State." Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center. The Institute was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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