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 (U of U) who conduct cancer research as a major professional focus.

In some cases, cancer-focused faculty at other institutions who add particular value to an HCI Program may become members. Members typically serve as principal investigator (PI), co-investigator, or project leader on an NCI-recognized, extramural cancer-relevant grant; this excludes training grants and some K awards. A clinical researcher who plays a leadership role in extramural cancer research groups (e.g., COG, SWOG, NRG, ECOG/ACRIN and Alliance) or serves as PI on one or more investigator-initiated clinical trials would also be an appropriate appointee to this membership category.

At the discretion of the Director, individuals who have had a record of peer-reviewed extramural support, but who are experiencing a lapse in funding, may be retained as Cancer Center members while seeking continued extramural support.

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.

Individuals in this membership category may be key service providers who support the research of the scientific members, if their research interests are aligned with a particular Program. It is anticipated that Associate Members will become Members (Type 1) within five years of appointment, with some exceptions based on the recommendation of the Program Leader(s). Movement to Member is contingent upon the factors outlined above, as well as the maintenance of a cancer-focused research program.

Affiliate/Non-Program Aligned Member (Type 3)

This membership category is available to U of U faculty and other professionals who are cancer-focused, 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. This membership category recognizes individuals such as members of our Multidisciplinary Disease Groups who are both patient-care providers and active participants in the Center’s clinical research portfolio via enrollment of patients on clinical trials; laboratory or population scientists who express an interest in contributing to the Cancer Center’s mission, but who do not have cancer research as a primary focus; or key service providers, such as shared resource directors, whose research interests are not aligned with a specific Program.

Affiliate/Non-Program Aligned membership provides a mechanism to formally engage interested faculty in Cancer Center activities such as meetings, retreats, and seminars. These individuals are welcome to participate in Program and Center activities in a non-voting capacity.

Apply for Membership

View List of HCI Cancer Center Members

Cancer Center Director

Cornelia Ulrich, MS, PhD

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
Katharine Ullman, PhD
Co-Director, Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination
Alana Welm, PhD
Basic Science
David Wetter, PhD, MS
Cancer Health Equity Science