About The Markey Cancer Foundation

Dr. Ben Roach

In 1978, Dr. Ben Roach and others began the planning and organization to build a cancer center for Kentucky. With the financial support of the people, civic organizations, corporations, and businesses throughout the United States, the Markey Cancer Foundation (formerly known as the McDowell Cancer Research Foundation)  has raised more than $65 million to provide the facilities for and support of the programs of the Markey Cancer Center.

Over the past 30+ years, the Markey Cancer Foundation has built the four facilities that now comprise the Markey Cancer Center and funded numerous endowed chairs, clinical and research programs. The Foundation donated the buildings to the University of Kentucky and continues to work to provide the funding for programs, recruiting top researchers and physicians, and finding better ways to assist patients and their families during such a crisis time in their lives. 

Our Vision

The Markey Cancer Foundation invests in the people and programs who are working to discover the cures and to devise new and better treatments to fight cancer.

Teachers and research scholars with national and international credentials will provide the margin of excellence for fulfilling the Markey Cancer Center's great expectation to become a premier cancer center. Private donations for these purposes are critical for the success of this endeavor.

30+ Years of Dedicated and Caring Service

To achieve new levels of excellence, the Cancer Center must have the most distinguished names in all fields of oncology. The ability to retain, recruit and reward physicians and scientists with international reputations is influenced by our capability to support their teaching and research initiatives.

The Foundation continues to raise funds for the Markey Cancer Center to:

• advance cancer research programs and promising young researchers,
• foster innovative patient care,
• purchase state-of-the-art scientific equipment, and
• endow chairs and professorships to recruit and retain exceptional doctors at the Markey Cancer Center, and
• to provide a premier cancer center treatment floor in the new Chandler Hospital.
• more information here