Various accomplishments in the last year have moved Kansas University closer to its goal of gaining designation as a comprehensive cancer center.

The Kansas University Cancer Center’s effort to be designated as a comprehensive cancer center appears to be on the fast track.

An advisory panel assembled to review and evaluate KU’s progress toward seeking the designation from the National Cancer Institute gave a key endorsement this week after apparently being impressed by work completed in the last year. A year ago, the advisory group had suggested KU take another year or two to strengthen its application to the NCI. After a recent review of KU’s progress, however, the advisers noted the project’s “remarkable growth” in the last year and endorsed KU’s plan to submit its application to the NCI this fall.

During the last year, the KU center attracted key funding commitments and hired some top researchers. The recently announced merger with the Kansas City Cancer Center also was a major boost. The fact that U.S. News and World Report last month named KU Hospital as the top hospital in the Kansas City metropolitan area also should help strengthen the cancer center effort.

Being named an NCI comprehensive cancer center is a lofty goal. Although some may have wondered whether KU was shooting too high, the major strides taken in the last year seem to have put that goal well within KU’s reach.