Membership Categories

Specific criteria have been developed for each membership category.

Program Member (Type 1)

This category defines individuals with faculty appointments at the University of Utah (the U) who conduct cancer research as a professional focus. In some cases, cancer-related faculty at other institutions who add particular value to an HCI Program may become members. Faculty members who meet any one of the following criteria may apply:

Serve as principal investigator (PI), multi-PI (MPI), or project leader/co-project leader on an extramural, peer-reviewed (as recognized by NCI), cancer-relevant research grant
- In specific circumstances, significant non-peer-reviewed funding (e.g., ARPA-H) may be considered
Serve in a leadership role in NCI’s National Clinical Trials Network Groups (e.g. Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, NRG Oncology, SWOG, or Children’s Oncology Group [COG])
Serve as PI on one or more interventional treatment investigator-initiated clinical trials
- In specific circumstances, strategic cancer clinical trials advancing HCI pillars may be considered

At the discretion of the Cancer Center Director, individuals who temporarily do not meet the above criteria, but have a record of doing so, may be retained as Cancer Center members.

Program Associate Member (Type 2)

This category defines individuals who contribute to the Cancer Center research portfolio in laboratory, clinical, or population science and foster a collaborative environment, but do not meet the criteria for Cancer Center membership Type 1. Associate members are encouraged to obtain independent research funding. Movement to Full Member (Type 1) is contingent upon meeting the eligibility outlined above.

Affiliate/Non-Program Aligned Member (Type 3)

This membership category is available to U faculty and other professionals who are cancer-related, but not research-oriented as a primary professional emphasis. Affiliate/Non-Program Aligned members of the Cancer Center provide supplementary assistance and support to HCI’s mission but are not formally affiliated with a particular Cancer Center Research Program. Affiliate/Non-Program Aligned membership provides a mechanism to formally engage interested faculty in Cancer Center activities such as meetings, retreats, and seminars.

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View List of HCI Cancer Center Members

Comprehensive Cancer Center Director

Cornelia Ulrich, MS, PhD

Comprehensive Cancer Center Deputy Director

Theresa Werner, MD

Senior Directors

Neeraj Agarwal, MD
Clinical Research
Donald Ayer, PhD
Co-Director, Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination
Rachel Ceballos, PhD
Community Outreach and Engagement
Max Loveless, MBA
Senior Administrative Director
Martin McMahon, PhD
Preclinical Translation
Tracy Onega, PhD, MS
Population Sciences
Gita Suneja, MD, MS
Programs to Enhance Diversity
Aik Choon Tan, PhD
Data Science and AI
Katharine Ullman, PhD
Co-Director, Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination
Alana Welm, PhD
Basic Science
David Wetter, PhD, MS
Cancer Health Equity Science