The Ho‘ōla project involves the creation of an Early Phase Clinical Research Center that will be
the only such facility in the State of Hawai‘i, providing access to clinical research for patients
across multiple disciplines, and expanding the research capabilities of the only research university
in the State, the University of Hawai‘i (UH) at Mānoa.
The goals of this project are:
1. Build out of approximately 50% of available shell space contiguous with the NCI-designated
University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center (UHCC) building, to house the Early Phase Clinical
Research Center
2. Build out of a portion of the shell space to create an Organoid Generation Facility that will
utilize tumor tissue biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on early phase and other trials
3. Provide a Statewide resource for investigators at UHCC, UH Mānoa and investigators at other
Hawai‘i-based institutions, and a resource for patients across the State.
Funding under this project will support build-out of 16,757 sf of shell space on the Kaka‘ako capus
of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Ho‘ōla will be the only dedicated EPCRC in the State of
Hawai‘i. In addition to providing a resource for investigators to conduct these studies, critical
information about the effects of new agents on diverse populations will be obtained, as enrollment
will be primarily from minority groups. Members of the Hawai‘i Cancer Consortium, which includes
the major healthcare providers in the State, have committed to ongoing operational support to
ensure sustainability. The Ho‘ōla project will also establish the only OGF in the State. This will
be developed in collaboration with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. By having this capacity located
in Hawai‘i, there will be an opportunity to incorporate tissue samples from Native Hawaiians, and
other ethnic groups, under a robust mechanism that involves individual consent, local generation
and storage, local review by the UHCC Native Hawaiian Scientific Advisory Board, and ongoing
feedback to the community.
This construction will expand research capabilities and capacity for researchers throughout the
University of Hawai‘i System, as well as other Hawai‘i based research institutions. More
importantly, the resource will also provide substantial benefit to the people of Hawai‘i, including
Native Hawaiians, generate knowledge about the efficacy of novel agents in diverse populations,
facilitate access to novel trials, and provide a resource for research on tumor-derived organoids
from a racially and ethnically diverse population.