City of Hope, a biomedical research, treatment, and education center based in California, has announced a $100 million gift from the Panda Charitable Family Foundation to create an integrative cancer center.

The Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology will be a first-of-its-kind, national program that brings together Eastern and Western medicine to improve outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients and survivors. The contribution from the foundation, established by Panda Express restaurant chain co-founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng, is the largest single gift in City of Hope’s history.

According to City of Hope, integrative oncology—used by 40 percent of cancer patients—is a whole-person approach to cancer care that draws from diverse cultures, particularly traditional Chinese medicine and other Eastern healing traditions. The center will fund programs to accelerate research, develop therapies, and conduct clinical trials; provide education and training to address clinician shortages; and pilot programs to build scalable infrastructure for data and knowledge sharing.

“The Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology will be the epicenter of translational research, new drug development, and holistic care that meets a pressing need for patients and enhances our connection to the diverse communities we serve,” said City of Hope National Medical Center vice physician-in-chief Edward S. Kim. “Our vision is to create an international destination for integrative oncology that transforms the way people with cancer receive care.”

“We hope the Cherng Family Center of Integrative Oncology becomes a model of bringing the best of Eastern and Western medicine together to unlock holistic healing for our communities,” said Peggy Cherng. “We are grateful to help establish…pioneering integrated cancer care to not only save lives but improve the quality of life for cancer patients.”

(Photo credit: City of Hope)