University of Hawaii Cancer Center

What University of Hawaii Cancer Center does

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center (UHCC) is one of 74 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers in the United States and the only such center in Hawaii and the broader Pacific region. Established in 1981 and continuously NCI-designated since 1996, UHCC operates as a state university research entity under the University of Hawaii at Manoa, with a mission centered on addressing cancer health disparities among Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian American populations. The center is based at a 701 Ilalo Street facility in Honolulu's Kaka'ako district and maintains 300+ direct faculty and staff employees plus 200+ affiliate members with cooperative agreements.

UHCC's core offerings span clinical care, research infrastructure, and population science. Its flagship clinical facility, the Ho'ola Early Phase Clinical Research Center (EPCRC), opened on July 6, 2026 as Hawaii's first dedicated Phase I/II cancer clinical trials center, comprising 7,500 sq ft with six infusion bays, five patient rooms, a certified pharmacy, and a clinical research laboratory. Research infrastructure includes the Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID, established June 2026 with a $12M NIH COBRE Phase 1 award through February 2031), the Hawaii and Pacific Islands Mammography Registry (HIPIMR, with 45M+ breast images and 125,000+ women), the Multiethnic Cohort Study (215,000+ participants in partnership with USC), and shared resources spanning genomics, bioinformatics, biostatistics, pathology, metabolomics, imaging, and body composition analysis. The Ka 'Umeke Lama initiative (launched 2024) extends oncology reach statewide through workforce development, telehealth, and clinical trial expansion. The Multiethnic Cohort Study and the Hawaii Tumor Registry (a SEER member since 1973, tracking 200,000+ cumulative cancer cases) provide decades-long longitudinal data assets that are difficult to replicate elsewhere.

The center is funded primarily through competitive federal grants (NIH/NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30CA071789, COBRE, SPORE, R01s, and SEER), with $48.6M in awarded research funds reported in 2023. Additional revenue streams include state of Hawaii appropriations (Act 20), clinical services billed through insurance (notably HMSA), clinical trial sponsorship by pharmaceutical sponsors via Ho'ola EPCRC, and philanthropic contributions including the Helmsley Charitable Trust ($2.2M+) and V Foundation awards. The Hawaii Cancer Consortium — comprising The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Pacific Health, HMSA, Kuakini Medical Center, Adventist Health Castle, Hilo Benioff Medical Center, and John A. Burns School of Medicine — provides statewide care delivery and the clinical trial network. UHCC contributes more than $57M annually to Hawaii's economy and supports 173 active clinical trials, but experienced a significant ransomware data breach on August 31, 2025 affecting up to 1.15-1.2 million people, primarily Multiethnic Cohort Study participants.

Name

University of Hawaii Cancer Center

Legal name

University of Hawai'i Cancer Center

Website

https://uhcancercenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center is the only NCI-designated cancer center in Hawaii and the Pacific, focused on cancer health disparities among Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian American populations. It operates the 215,000-participant Multiethnic Cohort Study, PAC-AID AI center, and Hawaii's first early-phase clinical trial facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Research and Treatment Center

NAICS

Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospital-Integrated Cancer Centers (Acute Oncology Programs) (HLAFAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) (EDAHAAAC), Liver & GI Clinical Research (Trials Centers) (HLAKAEAL), Genomics & Molecular Diagnostics (Trial Support) (HLAGAEAD)

Keywords

• Cancer research
• Clinical trials
• Oncology services
• Cancer epidemiology
• Biomedical research

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Research Grant Funding: Primary funding from federal agencies including NIH and NCI through competitive grants such as Cancer Center Support Grant (P30CA071789), COBRE awards, SPORE grants, and individual research project grants. In 2023, approximately $48.6 million in awarded research funds.
2. Clinical Services Revenue: Revenue from patient care services including cancer treatment, clinical trials, and diagnostic services provided to patients.
3. Clinical Trial Sponsorship: Funding from pharmaceutical companies and research sponsors to conduct Phase I and II clinical trials through the Ho'ōla Early Phase Clinical Research Center.
4. State of Hawai'i Funding: State appropriations and funding including Act 20 allocations for facility construction and operations.
5. Private Donations and Philanthropy: Contributions from donors including The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust ($2.2M+), community donors, and foundation support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center is an NCI-designated cancer research center that conducts population sciences and cancer biology research, operates Phase I and II early-phase clinical trials through the Ho'ola EPCRC, and delivers cancer patient care and clinical services to residents of Hawaii and the Pacific region. It runs the Multiethnic Cohort Study (215,000+ participants), the HIPIMR breast imaging registry (45+ million images), and shares research resources in genomics, bioinformatics, biostatistics, and pathology with academic and clinical collaborators via the Hawaii Cancer Consortium.

Product overview

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center is an NCI-designated cancer research center offering a comprehensive portfolio of cancer care and research services. The core offerings include the Ho'ōla Early Phase Clinical Research Center (EPCRC) as Hawaii's first dedicated center for early-phase clinical trials; the Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID) for AI-driven biomedical research; the Ka 'Umeke Lama statewide clinical oncology initiative; and the Hawai'i & Pacific Islands Mammography Registry (HIPIMR) with extensive breast imaging data. Additional services include population research through the Multiethnic Cohort Study, clinical trials across multiple cancer types, and specialized research programs in cancer biology, population sciences, and cancer health disparities. The center operates shared research resources including genomics, bioinformatics, biostatistics, and pathology cores, and collaborates with the Hawai'i Cancer Consortium for integrated cancer care delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ho'ola Early Phase Clinical Research Center (EPCRC) Hawai'i's first dedicated center for Phase I and II cancer clinical trials, enabling patients to access investigational therapies locally without traveling to the US mainland. The 7,500 sq ft facility includes infusion bays, patient rooms, certified pharmacy, and clinical research laboratory for cancer patients.
• Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID) NIH-funded research center dedicated to accelerating biomedical discoveries through AI and data science, providing high-performance computing resources and AI expertise to advance health outcomes for Hawaii and the Pacific region. Targets skin lesion triage, pancreatic cancer, environmental toxicant effects, and congenital heart disease genetics.
• Ka 'Umeke Lama Statewide Clinical Oncology Initiative Pioneering statewide initiative to transform cancer care in Hawaii and the Pacific, addressing disparities through workforce development, telehealth expansion, clinical trials access, and AI-based clinical trial screening tools for underserved populations.
• Hawai'i & Pacific Islands Mammography Registry (HIPIMR) Database maintaining over 45 million breast images with demographic, clinical, and risk factor information for women in Hawaii, used to identify next-generation breast imaging characteristics and improve breast cancer screening accuracy through quality control, alternative technology, and AI.
• Multiethnic Cohort Study Large-scale longitudinal study involving 215,000+ Hawaii and Los Angeles residents studying lifestyle and genetic factors in cancer development across diverse ethnic groups including Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Asian American, African American, and Latino populations. Used by researchers worldwide through data sharing and ancillary studies.
• Cancer Clinical Trials Program Comprehensive clinical trials program offering Phase I and II trials via Ho'ola EPCRC plus later-phase trials across 173 active trials in 2023, conducted in collaboration with Hawaii Cancer Consortium partners including The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Pacific Health, and Kuakini Medical Center. Includes dedicated Clinical Trials Office for enrollment and provider support.
• Hawai'i Tumor Registry Population-based cancer surveillance registry participating in the NCI's SEER Program since 1973 with NAACCR GOLD standard certification; tracks cancer cases across Hawaii including demographic, clinical, and outcomes data. Provides epidemiological data for cancer research and public health planning.
• Cancer Patient Care Services Direct cancer care services delivered at the Honolulu facility including diagnosis, treatment, survivorship care, and clinical trial enrollment, billed through standard medical insurance including HMSA. Serves approximately 76,000 cancer patients in Hawaii with 7,500 new diagnoses per year.
• Shared Research Resources (Genomics, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Pathology, Imaging, Metabolomics) Centralized shared research cores offering access to genomics and bioinformatics, biostatistics, analytical biochemistry and metabolomics, body composition laboratory, preclinical and chemical biology, microscopy/imaging/flow cytometry, nutrition support, and pathology core services for cancer investigators.
• Cancer Research Education and Training Programs Education and training programs for high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, including Summer Internship Program, T32 postdoctoral fellowship, travel awards, and Clinical Research Professional Certificate Program. Designed to build the cancer research workforce in the Pacific region.

Quantifiable outcome

• $230M+ out-of-state cancer care spending identified (2021-2023)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supportive and research.

• The Queen's Health SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Hawai'i Cancer Consortium; major healthcare system collaborating on cancer research and treatment delivery across the state
• Hawai'i Pacific HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Hawai'i Cancer Consortium; healthcare system partner in cancer research and treatment through clinical trial network
• Kuakini Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Hawai'i Cancer Consortium; participating in clinical trial network for cancer research
• Adventist Health CastlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Hawai'i Cancer Consortium; partner in cancer care delivery and research
• Hilo Benioff Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined Hawai'i Cancer Consortium; expanding cancer care access on the Big Island of Hawai'i
• Hawai'i Medical Service Association (HMSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Hawai'i Cancer Consortium; collaborated on research quantifying $230M+ out-of-state cancer care spending; largest health insurance provider in Hawai'i
• John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Hawai'i Cancer Consortium; academic partner in cancer research, education, and training
• University of Southern California (USC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Multiethnic Cohort Study involving 215,000+ participants from Hawai'i and Los Angeles
• U.S. Senator Mazie HironosupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal legislative support for funding including support for EPCRC development and cancer research programs
• U.S. Senator Brian SchatzsupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerPlayed pivotal role in securing NIH grant for PAC-AID; advocate for cancer research funding
• University Health Partners of HawaiicoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFaculty practice of UH Health Sciences handling staffing and operations for Ho'ōla EPCRC clinical research center
• University of Washington Computer Science DepartmentresearchTechnology or IntegrationPartner in Shape Up! Study funded by NIH for 3D optical body scanning research
• Pennington Biomedical Research CenterresearchTechnology or IntegrationPartner in Shape Up! Study for developing tools from 3D body scanners
• University of California at San Francisco (UCSF)researchTechnology or IntegrationPartner in Shape Up! Study and breast imaging research collaboration
• Diabetes Research Center (UH Mānoa)researchTechnology or IntegrationNIH COBRE-funded center at UH Mānoa; part of growing portfolio of COBRE centers
• Integrative Center for Precision Nutrition and Human Health (UH Mānoa)researchTechnology or IntegrationNIH COBRE-funded center; part of portfolio of COBRE centers at UH Mānoa
• Integrative Center for Environmental Microbiomes and Human Health (UH Mānoa)researchTechnology or IntegrationNIH COBRE-funded center; part of portfolio of COBRE centers at UH Mānoa

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at USC: NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center at USC's Keck School of Medicine, active partner with UH Cancer Center on the Multiethnic Cohort Study of 215,000+ participants. Both are academic cancer centers of similar scale with population-science and clinical research programs targeting diverse populations.
• University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center: NCI-designated cancer center with similar mission focus on cancer health disparities in underserved populations (Native American and Hispanic populations). Comparable scale and rural/statewide access challenges parallel Hawaii's geographic isolation challenges.
• Huntsman Cancer Institute: NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center at University of Utah. Similar scale academic NCI center with rural catchment area, integrating research, clinical care, and population sciences like UH Cancer Center.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: Originally founded in 1975 as a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center integrating clinical care and research at a similar scale. Focuses on translational research and clinical trials across cancer types.
• VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center: NCI-designated cancer center at Virginia Commonwealth University with similar scope of research programs, clinical trial offerings, and community outreach focus on disparities. Comparable institution in scale and structure.
• UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center: NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center at UCLA with similar academic medical center setting, broad research programs including population sciences. Partners in the Multiethnic Cohort Study with UH Cancer Center via USC.
• Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego: NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center at UC San Diego with similar size, focus on translational research and clinical trials. Comparable academic NCI cancer center in California.
• Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center: NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center at Indiana University with similar scale, structure, and population health focus. Comparable academic NCI cancer center with statewide catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center: NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center affiliated with Harvard Medical School and a major cancer hospital. Significantly larger scale than UH Cancer Center with deep subspecialty oncology programs that compete for Hawaii's out-of-state cancer care referrals.
• UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center: NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center at UCSF. UH Cancer Center's John Shepherd was previously at UCSF Radiology for 19 years; the two centers collaborate on breast imaging research. A larger peer that competes for similar patient referrals and research collaborations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UHCancerCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/132430720128027
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uhcancercenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/uhcancercenter

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Hawaii Cancer Center