Cancer Ends Here: MCW Celebrates the Grand Opening of the Center for Cancer Discovery
On Tuesday, August 5, the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the new Center for Cancer Discovery (CCD), a 161,000-square-foot building purposefully designed to serve as a hub for collaboration and innovation that will accelerate scientific discoveries. The state-of-the-art CCD is the first and only research facility in eastern Wisconsin solely dedicated to cancer research.
“This is where basic scientists will rub shoulders with population health researchers; where chemical biologists will collaborate with clinicians and imaging experts to move discoveries from bench to bedside; where the community is always welcome because we know science is stronger when it includes people it’s meant to serve. It’s where curiosity meets purpose, and where we will do our best work,” said Gustavo Leone, PhD, MCW Cancer Center Director.
“This isn’t just a ribbon cutting. It’s a line in the sand: a before and after. Before today, we worked in fragments across buildings and across silos. After today, we move together as one. Before today, we imagined what was possible. After today, we build it.”
—Gustavo Leone, PhD
Cancer remains a leading cause of death in Wisconsin, with overall incidence and mortality rates above the national average. Under-resourced communities carry a disproportionate share of the burden, facing later-stage diagnoses, limited access to lifesaving care, and persistent disparities in outcomes. The CCD aims to close these gaps by advancing groundbreaking science and ensuring that its benefits reach every community.
The CCD brings together more than 300 cancer researchers and staff—previously spread across multiple locations—into open, collaborative scientific neighborhoods. It houses advanced laboratories and the Center’s six Shared Resources equipped with the tools of tomorrow: cell therapy manufacturing, metabolomics, advanced imaging, and more. The facility is also home to the BioHub, a biotech incubator designed to help researchers launch investigator-led startups to develop breakthrough cancer diagnostics, therapies, and technologies.
John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, President and CEO of MCW, said the CCD is both a symbol and a tool for achieving the institution’s long-term goals in cancer research and care.
“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. 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.”
—John R. Raymond, Sr., MD
Highlighting the importance of statewide collaboration and investment, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers noted how the CCD aligns with the state’s priorities for improving health outcomes and expanding access to care.
“The Medical College of Wisconsin is a leader in medical innovation, from conducting hundreds of clinical trials to expanding access to care across rural, urban, and Tribal communities, and MCW’s Cancer Center is a driving force behind that progress. 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. I look forward to seeing all that this center will bring to Wisconsin and beyond.”
—Tony Evers, Wisconsin Governor
More than 100 guests attended the morning ceremony, including State Representative Robyn Vining, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride, community leaders, institutional partners, donors, and supporters. The program also featured remarks from Elizabeth (Betsy) Brenner, Chair of the MCW Board of Trustees, who described the grand opening as an exciting and well-deserved milestone for MCW. Speaking not only as a leader but also as a patient who received care at the Cancer Center, Brenner offered a personal testament to its excellence.
James Thomas, MD, PhD, Cancer Center Associate Director of Translational Research, followed with a powerful reminder of why the work inside the CCD matters. He shared the story of a patient who often knitted in the waiting room before her appointments with him. During his remarks, Dr. Thomas held up an unfinished blue scarf she had been working on before her passing, telling the audience it stands as a symbol of the urgent need to do more, to find answers, and to improve outcomes for patients.
In the afternoon, the CCD welcomed more than 900 faculty, staff, students, and community members for an open house. Guests explored laboratories, collaborative spaces, and community areas, seeing firsthand how the building will support scientific breakthroughs. The celebration included treats from local vendors, live music from the MCW Orchestra, and conversations about one shared goal: ending cancer.
The CCD is the only community-facing building on campus, ensuring that patients, advocates, and the public are active partners in shaping the direction of cancer research. As Dr. Leone described, it is “a place where community members help shape the research questions, and the answers come back in the form of stronger prevention, better screening, and care that meets people where they are.”
That promise will be on full display on Friday, August 15, when Audaxity’s Rev Up becomes the first community event ever held in the new space. The rally will bring together riders, volunteers, and supporters ahead of the inaugural Audaxity bike ride on Sunday, August 17, connecting them directly to the cancer research their fundraising makes possible.
The CCD also features a permanent bike display and the signature Audaxity stripes at its entrance, celebrating the efforts of people in the community and across the nation who have committed to being part of the movement to end cancer.
The move-in of research and administrative teams is already underway and will continue through October. As the building fills with people, ideas, and activity, the excitement to get to work is palpable. When fully occupied, the CCD will stand as a hub where bold ideas, collaborative partnerships, and community voices unite to transform cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship for generations to come.
