In 1975, Lineberger Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill received National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designation. The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, named for the Lineberger family of Belmont, NC, is the only public comprehensive cancer center in the state of North Carolina.

In 1977, the Lineberger foundation pledged $1 million to a building fund for a proposed cancer research center building. This gift spurred others to contribute, and more than $4 million was raised. This funding provided the core financing for the original three-story research building that opened in 1984.