Henry Ford Health, Michigan State Partner on New Cancer Program, Research Institute

Henry Ford Health System and Michigan State University have signed a letter of intent to create an integrated cancer program and build a joint research institute in Detroit.

The deal aims to create more opportunities for medical students, and develop a cancer program that will seek the designation of “National Cancer Institute.”

“It likely will mean additional investment in scientists and researchers.” — Wright Lassiter, Henry Ford Health System

Dr. Adnan Munkarah, Chief Clinical Officer at Henry Ford, says the COVID-19 pandemic amplified the need for the health system to grow its partnership with MSU.

“We really thought that the time now is as critical as ever, in fact more critical than ever, for us to pursue this partnership because we have accelerated [our] vision for where we want to transform health care and where we want to go,” Munkarah said.

The cancer program will seek the designation of “National Cancer Institute,” and the institute will lead to development dollars for Detroit.

“That will mean a new building,” says Wright Lassiter, president and CEO of the Henry Ford Health System. “It likely will mean additional investment in scientists and researchers in that structure.”

Lassiter says details of the facility are still being worked out. He says the goal is to have a plan for the building in place by the end of the year.

The deal with Michigan State will not impact Henry Ford’s current relationship with Wayne State University.