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The Research Leadership Council (RLC) is responsible for the coordination of Huntsman Cancer Institute's research portfolio and is accountable for the execution of Cancer Center goals. The RLC is chaired by Neli Ulrich, MS, PhD, and includes all Program Leaders, staff investigators, shared resource directors, Protocol Review and Monitoring System and Data and Safety Monitoring Committee chairs, senior administrators, and leaders of Huntsman Cancer Institute centers and partners. This group serves as the core leadership of the Cancer Center, participates actively in strategic planning for research initiatives, and evaluates programs, shared resources, and membership.

New applications for Cancer Center membership are presented by a relevant Program Leader and put forward for an advisory vote by RLC members based on specific membership criteria. Dr. Ulrich makes final decisions on Cancer Center membership. The RLC meets monthly for two hours.

The RLC is composed of the following people:

Chair

Cornelia Ulrich, MS, PhD

Executive Director, Comprehensive Cancer Center

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Senior Directors

Neeraj Agarwal, MD

Clinical Translation

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Donald E. Ayer, PhD

Cancer Training and Career Enhancement

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Rachel Ceballos, PhD

Community Outreach and Engagement

Max Loveless, MBA

Senior Administrative Director

Martin McMahon, PhD

Preclinical Translation

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Kolawole S. Okuyemi, MD, MPH

Equity, Diversity,and Inclusion

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Tracy Onega, PhD, MS

Population Sciences

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Aik Choon Tan, PhD

Data Science

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Alana Welm, PhD

Basic Science

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Theresa Werner, MD

Clinical Research

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David Wetter, PhD, MS

Cancer Health Equity Science

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Program Co-Leaders

Nuclear Control of Cell Growth and Differentiation

Jay Gertz, PhD

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Jared P. Rutter, PhD

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Cell Response and Regulation

Sheri L. Holmen, PhD

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Experimental Therapeutics

Howard Colman, MD, PhD

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Martin McMahon, PhD

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Cancer Control and Population Sciences

Jennifer Doherty, MS, PhD

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Kathleen Mooney, PhD, RN

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Clinical Leaders

Wallace L. Akerley, MD

Chair, Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee

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Howard Colman, MD, PhD

Vice-Chair, Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee

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Paul J. Shami, MD

Chair, Data and Safety Monitoring

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Shared Resource Directors

Kenneth M. Boucher, PhD

Cancer Biostatistics

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Nicola Camp, PhD

Utah Population Database

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Brian Dalley, PhD

High-Throughput Genomics and Bioinformatic Analysis

David A. Nix, PhD

High-Throughput Genomics and Bioinformatic Analysis

Christopher Fillmore, PhD

Biorepository and Molecular Pathology

Wendy K. Kohlmann, MS, CGC

Genetic Counseling

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David H. Lum, PhD

Preclinical Research Resource

Andrew Post, MD, PhD

Research Informatics

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Staff Investigators

Jennifer Doherty, MS, PhD

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Administration

Kris Frisby

Associate Director of Basic Science and Research Administration

Max Loveless, MBA

Administrative Officer, Cancer Center Support Grant Administrator

Emily Olsen

Senior Administrative Manager, Disease Centers

Melanie Ward

Associate Director, Cancer Center Support Grant Associate Administrator

Holly Zullo, PhD

Director of Research Development

Centers and Partners

Center for Cancer Genetics

Sean V. Tavtigian, PhD
Director

Center for Health Outcomes and Population Equity (HOPE)

David W. Wetter, PhD, MS
Director

Center for Investigational Therapeutics

Neeraj Agarwal, MD
Director

Center for Patient and Public Education

Donna M. Branson
Director

Center for Quantitative Cancer Imaging

Jeffrey T. Yap, PhD
Director

Children’s and Adolescent Cancer Initiative/Division of Pediatric Hematology

Michael Pulsipher, MD
Director/Chief

Computational Oncology Research Initiative (CORI)

Howard Colman, MD, PhD, FAAN
Director

Division of Oncology

Saundra Buys, MD,
Chief

Huntsman Alliance for Postdocs (HAP)

Kate Warde, PhD
Representative

Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Kola Okuyemi, MD, MPH
Executive Senior Director

Utah Cancer Registry

Carol Sweeney, PhD
Director