SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - The Simmons Cancer Institute at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine opened its doors to patients on Thursday.

The Simmons Law Firm funded the institute with a $10.2 million donation of annual gifts and a multi-year pledge to support cancer research. The Simmons firm is based in East Alton but is renovating a building in Alton that will be its new headquarters.

Founded by John Simmons in 1999, the firm specializes in representing victims of mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

Physician specialists affiliated with the institute have about 1,750 patient visits each month. With the opening of the new building, nearly all of the school's cancer-care professionals, research facilities and support programs are now under one roof.