In 1999, University of California at San Francisco Cancer Research Institute received NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center designation.

The period 1959-1989 witnessed a revolution in the health sciences and biomedical industries, particularly the creation of the biotechnology industry that has made the San Francisco Bay Area and UCSF so notable as an innovator in biomedical research.

In November 2007, the Center was renamed the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center in tribute to Bay Area resident Helen Diller and her family’s trust in UCSF’s ability to rapidly translate cancer discoveries into compassionate care.