On Jul. 12, 2013. the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center (MCC) was joined by national, state and local leaders to celebrate its designation as a National Cancer Institute cancer center. The UK Markey Cancer Center was the 68th medical center in the country to receive this prestigious designation, and is the only NCI-designated cancer center in the state of Kentucky.

The McDowell Cancer Network, precursor of the current MCC, was founded in 1975.