Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Rush University System for Health plans to dramatically expand its clinical trials for patients with cancer thanks to a major donation from the family foundation of late business leader Harold B. Smith , the system announced Thursday.

Rush is not disclosing the size of the gift, but it is the largest ever donation to the Rush MD Anderson Cancer Center, according to Rush. Previously, the largest gift to Rush’s cancer center was $25 million, according to Rush.

The donation will establish the Harold B. Smith Family Cancer Research Center at Rush within the Rush MD Anderson Cancer Center. The new center will focus on expanding phase 1 clinical trials for cancer patients. A phase 1 trial is the first step in testing a new treatment in humans, a

See Full Page