East Texans will soon be able to take advantage of the world-renowned treatment expertise of MD Anderson, as officials with the Houston cancer hospital and UT Health Northeast announced their affiliation on Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Tyler facility.

The partnership is expected to launch in 2017, UT Health NE officials said. Both facilities are part of the University of Texas system.

Dr. Kirk Calhoun, president of UT Health NE joined UT system Deputy Chancellor Dr. David E. Daniel and MD Anderson Cancer Center President Dr. Ronald DePinho in making the announcement.

“We are pleased, honored and excited to announce this partnership,’’ Calhoun said. “Now East Texans will have access to the most advanced cancer treatment available today. This is really a big deal for our teaching facility.’’

Calhoun said the affiliation “positions us to make a quantum leap forward in cancer care for our region.’’

The Tyler center will be known as UT Health MD Anderson Cancer Center.

UT Health NE’s cancer program will be clinically and operationally integrated with MD Anderson’s six other health care institutions across the U.S. and three facilities in Brazil, Spain and Turkey.

Officials stressed the partnership will enhance local access to MD Anderson’s multidisciplinary care, treatment innovations, standards of care and clinical trials.

“We are so excited to celebrate this affiliation which will do so much good for the people of East Texas,’’ Daniel said. “I’m proud to say we are no more enmeshed anywhere than we are in Tyler.’’

Local backing, he said, is essential.

“At the end of the day, any impact we have is a result of the local support we enjoy and it’s one we never take for granted,’’ said Daniel.

DePinho recognizes the impact cancer has on not only the patient, but the family as well.

“Cancer strikes deep in the hearts of families,’’ he said. “We understand that it’s so important for the patient and family to be closer to home when receiving treatment.’’

Joining UT Health NE was obvious, DePinho said.

“It was a no-brainer for us to work (with UT Health NE),’’ he said. “We will become stronger and develop a more informed partnership.’’

The health professionals at MD Anderson and UT Health NE are focused on one goal he said: beating cancer.

“Our mission is to end cancer in Texas, the United States and around the world,’’ DePinho said. “We have a responsibility to future generations to ‘make cancer history.’ ’’

East Texans should rejoice in this affiliation, DePinho said.

“Today is a great day for cancer patients and their families, but it’s a bad day for cancer,’’ he said.

Some of the state’s top elected officials have voiced support for the partnership as well.

“Texas is blessed with some of the finest medical research and health care centers and the partnership physicians and researchers,’’ said U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. “By pooling resources and working together, the opportunities for successful treatments and cutting-edge therapies will be greater than ever, benefitting the entire East Texas region.’’

Officials said the two organizations will take part in the recruitment of all future program physicians and allied health staff. A national search to hire a medical director to lead the new program is also planned, officials said.