The UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center has successfully renewed its core grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), securing $25 million in federal funding over the next five years. This renewal puts to rest concerns that previous turmoil in the center's clinical trials office could have jeopardized its status as the region's only federally designated comprehensive cancer center.
Dr. Diane Simeone, a pancreatic cancer surgeon and researcher who previously served as an assistant director at the Perlmutter Cancer Center in New York, was brought in to lead Moores and oversee the grant renewal application.
The decision appears to have paid off: Simeone announced this week that the center has dramatically reduced the time required to launch new clinical trials. In 2018, it took an average of 224 days to activate a new trial; as of April 2025, that figure has dropped to 86.5 days.
This acceleration has led to a significant increase in patient enrollment. According to Simeone, accruals to interventional clinical trials have risen by approximately 250%.
"For many patients, the best opportunity for a cure is going to be in a clinical trial," she said.
The core grant, which UCSD has received continuously since 1978, covers about 25% of the center's operating costs. Losing it would have been devastating both financially and reputationally, as maintaining the prestigious comprehensive cancer center designation requires proven excellence in research and patient care every five years.
Simeone highlighted that about 40% of clinical trial offerings are now initiated locally in San Diego, a result of significant investment in helping local researchers start their own studies. This expanding portfolio is attracting patients from across the country.
"We're starting to see patients coming in from other parts of the country because of the expanding clinical trial portfolio that we have," she noted.
While the NCI grant renewal evaluates community outreach, it does not directly measure patient satisfaction. U.S.
News and World Report currently ranks Moores Cancer Center 41st nationally among all cancer centers. The center received "excellent" ratings for patient survival, nurse staffing, use of advanced technology, and available services, while patient experience was rated "above average." However, the report also noted that Moores treats a "very high" relative number of high-risk patients, with 2,121 such cases during the study period.
Some patients have reported challenges with appointment scheduling. One Reddit user described waiting a month to see an oncologist after a cancer diagnosis, and another patient reported delays in imaging analysis and longer waits for breast cancer subspecialists.
UCSD Health acknowledged that "strong local and national demand for specialty care" can lead to longer wait times, which may also be affected by insurance prior authorization requirements.
The health system stated that a patient experience team is dedicated to responding promptly to concerns. "We always prioritize patients with urgent medical needs and clinical trial patients, so that their treatment plans are not impacted," the statement said.
Efforts are underway to recruit more doctors and expand imaging and clinical capabilities: 17 new physicians are expected to join cancer care teams by fall. Currently, about 60% of new patients are seen within seven days, and 93% of new breast cancer patients requiring medical oncology are seen within that timeframe.
To meet growing demand, UCSD is expanding its comprehensive Breast Health Team with four new medical oncologists and four new advanced practice providers. Additionally, the recent opening of the McGrath Outpatient Pavilion in Hillcrest, which includes 20 new infusion chairs for cancer treatments, is expected to help accommodate more patients.