Dr. Mike Finan and his team at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI) are working to vanquish cancer through research, education and health care.

Finan was the guest speaker at Rotary Club of Atmore’s weekly meeting. He has been the director of MCI for two years.

MCI is the only academic cancer center in the Gulf Coast as it is a part of USA.

Finan said MCI receives between $3.5-$4 million in direct funding from the federal government, and hopes that increases to $10 million by 2020.

One way the funding issue can be helped is through patents.

MCI, through the aid of its doctors and researchers, has fielded some 60 patents already.

Finan said when these patents are used throughout the country, then the institute will be able to receive revenue from them.

Throughout his presentation, Finan talked about the different programs MCI offers, including a culinary medicine program, a better navigation program and offering Phase 1 trials.

Finan said the Phase 1 trials are when drugs are tested in the lab.

“Last year, we had 220 patients enrolled in clinical trials,” he said.

Another part of his presentation included cancer detection.

For example, Finan said doctors at MCI came up with an idea to test pap smears for ovarian cancer. He said the protein profiles from the fluid, which carries the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus.

Finan is a New Orleans, La., native, lives in Mobile and is a gynecologic oncologist.