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March 1 was a big day for the Arkansas Cancer Research Center (ACRC). A major gift kicked off a fund-raising drive that will be aided by the state legislature, and a new director was named.

A press conference at the state capitol announced the $150 million project, which will be named after the late Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller. Legislation was introduced that would match dollar for dollar, up to $50 million, for the 288,000-square-foot expansion on the UAMS campus.

The legislation is sponsored by state Sen. Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro. His father, longtime legislator Jerry Bookout, was treated for cancer at UAMS before his death. Getting the bill done is Sen. Bookout's highest priority.
"If nothing else gets done this session, it's simply paramount that this gets passed," Bookout said of the legislation.

Then former Alltel CEO Joe Ford and his wife, Jo Ellen, pledged $1 million for the center.

Bookout added at the press conference that all 35 senators along with 76 members of the 100-person House support the bill.

Dr. Peter D. Emanuel was also named executive director of the ACRC at UAMS. Emanuel's appointment was announced at the same news conference at the state capitol.

"Emanuel has the strong leadership experience needed to lead the ACRC through this critical period of growth," UAMS chancellor I. Dodd Wilson, MD, told reporters. "He will be an outstanding addition to the ACRC, particularly as we look forward to its upcoming expansion of our treatment and research
facilities."

Emanuel worked at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and he looks forward to his time in Little Rock.

"The previous directors of the ACRC — Dr. Kent Westbrook, Dr. Bart Barlogie and Dr. James Suen — have built a wonderful base and infrastructure," Emanuel said. "Now, it is time to recruit a number of additional researchers and clinicians to enhance the base that they established."


April 2007

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