San Diego's Only Comprehensive Cancer Center

When you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, choosing a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, such as Moores Cancer Center, means you'll receive the best possible care and support.

The NCI designation is the highest possible rating for a U.S. cancer center, reserved for centers with experts in every medical subspecialty. We push boundaries to beat all types of cancer — most importantly yours.

Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health is San Diego's only Comprehensive Cancer Center and the only place in the region that can deliver truly personalized care. Our unique blend of cancer research and patient care is transforming approaches to preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer.

About the NCI Designation

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training. The NCI coordinates the National Cancer Program, which provides research grants and cooperative agreements to coordinate and support research projects. Its Cancer Centers Program is one of the anchors of its cancer research effort, and these designated centers are recognized for scientific leadership and resources.

The designation of Comprehensive Cancer Center is reserved for those with the highest achievements in cancer research, clinical care, education, and community contributions. 

The NCI designation is ultimately about saving lives. Studies repeatedly show that patients treated at NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers have better survival and recovery rates, on average, due to the fullness of care, diverse oncology disciplines and subspecialty expertise to treat all types of cancer, plus access to transformative clinical trials.

Commission on Cancer Accreditation

UC San Diego Health is dedicated to the continuous improvement of our cancer care. Beyond our NCI designation, we participate in many national programs to improve the survival and quality of life for cancer patients.

One of these is our accreditation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons, which collects standardized data from CoC-accredited health care settings to measure cancer care quality. The CoC sets the quality of care measures for breast and colorectal cancer. Achieving CoC accreditation is one more way we demonstrate our commitment to the highest level of cancer care.

Other Memberships and Affiliations

• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
• American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Center of Excellence
• American College of Radiology Lung Cancer Screening Center
• Commission on Cancer National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer
• Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy