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Senate President Asks for University of Kentucky Cancer Research Funding

Legislative Research Commission

The Kentucky Senate president is asking the legislature to consider funding a cancer research project at the University of Kentucky.

Robert Stivers says he realizes his request is not typical one, especially for a non-budget session.

Stivers is requesting that members of the General Assembly consider opening up the state budget to fund construction of UK's Markey Cancer Research Facility. The cost to the state would be approximately $10 million.

Stivers says his family has received care at Markey. 

"I'm not gonna whine or cry, some people will say this needs to be done in the realm of all priorities and prioritizing it with everything else,” he said.

Stivers says during the last session, UK received far less state bonding authority than other area universities. Lexington Senator Reggie Thomas supports the president's request. 

"We need to do as much as we can to engage in research and study to find ways we can prevent, prevent cancer and treat cancer,” Thomas said.

Stivers says he's not talked to members of the House about his suggestion. The matter will be discussed further when lawmakers return to work in February.

Stu Johnson is a reporter/producer at WEKU in Lexington, Kentucky.
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