The Nevada Cancer Institute has received a hefty gift from the Engelstad Family Foundation to conduct lung cancer research and educate the public about prevention and screening of the most common cancer in the nation.

The foundation's founder, Ralph Engelstad, succumbed to lung cancer in 2002. At the time, Engelstad was the owner of the Imperial Palace.

The $15 million gift, announced Saturday, will be used to create endowed professorship and fellowship programs. The goal of the programs will be to advance lung cancer research, screening and treatment.

This month marks the one-year anniversary of the institute's opening of its Summerlin campus.

"This is a very generous gift,'' Heather Murren, the institute's chief executive officer, said Monday.

"Over the past 10 to 20 years, there have been no major advances in lung cancer research. It is our hope that with this funding we can pave the way for better treatment options for it and educate the public about ways to prevent it. One of those is obviously to quit smoking,'' Murren said.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung cancer causes the most cancer-related deaths in both men and women in the nation. Nevada ranks No. 1 in the nation in deaths of women associated with lung cancer per 100,000 population.

The American Cancer Institute estimates that 1,520 Nevada men and women will be newly diagnosed with lung cancer and 1,420 will die of it this year.

Murren said the institute's goal is to research ways to eliminate cancer.

Owen Nitz and Jeff Cooper, trustees of the Engelstad Family Foundation, said they selected the Nevada Cancer Institute for the endowment after much research of the institute's work-in-progress. Nitz, who was Engelstad's attorney for 40 years, said this was in no way a solicitation on the institute's part.

"They did suggest some programs but this was strictly something we wanted to do,'' he said. "The most important thing that we were looking at was how much money would disappear for salaries and administrative purposes. NVCI really has a very, very efficient operation and we felt that the majority of the funds would go to research and not salaries. You just have to look at the caliber of people they already have on board. They have a great vision.''

Cooper, who was Engelstad's CPA for about 25 years, said the Nevada Cancer Institute's passion to find a cure, educate the public and provide help to those stricken with lung cancer is what caught the foundation's attention.

The institute is home to the state's cancer registry and is working with health officials across the state to coordinate efforts and resources to combat cancer. It has been designated as the state's official cancer institute.

In a press statement, Betty Engelstad, widow of Ralph Engelstad, said if the foundation's gift someday puts an end to lung cancer, then the loss of her husband "won't have entirely been in vain.''

Murren said the cancer institute will conduct an international search for researchers to be part of the program.

"We're looking for the best of the best. We want people who are really accomplished,'' she said.