University Times

UPCI wants portion of tobacco suit settlement money for cancer research

Pennsylvania's pending settlement with to- bacco companies is expected to pump $11.3 billion into state coffers over the next 25 years.

The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) wants a share of that money.

Last week, UPCI hosted a briefing and tour for Dennis O'Brien, chairperson of the Pennsylvania House health and human services committee, and other state legislators. UPCI and Pennsylvania's seven other cancer centers want lawmakers to earmark 25 percent of the state's settlement money for cancer research.

O'Brien was noncommittal but called the cancer centers' proposal "exciting." The centers submitted their proposal to Gov. Ridge in December.

"Clinical and basic researchers here at UPCI and at these other centers have made remarkable contributions to understanding the biological basis of cancer. Moreover, they have advanced the prevention, detection and treatment of a disease that, unfortunately, will be diagnosed in more than 700,000 Pennsylvanians over the next 10 years," said Ronald B. Herberman, UPCI director and Pitt associate vice chancellor for Research.

The American Cancer Society of Pennsylvania has endorsed the plan proposed by UPCI, the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, Temple Cancer Center, Penn State Geisinger Health System Cancer Center and Wistar Institute.

But it's up to the state General Assembly to appropriate the settlement money.

Pennsylvania's first money from the tobacco companies settlement, for $138 million, has been put into an escrow account. The money will be turned over to the Commonwealth when 40 states, representing 80 percent of the tobacco companies' total allocation, have won court approval of their settlements and appeal periods have expired.

Pennsylvania's second payment would be $358 million. After that, the state is slated to receive between $398 million and $482 million each year for the next 25 years.

— Bruce Steele