The appointments reflect the increasingly integrated nature of modern oncology research, in which laboratory discoveries, clinical trial design, pharmacy operations, patient safety, data management, and professional development must function as a single system. NRG Oncology is part of the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network and coordinates multicenter studies across more than 1,300 research sites worldwide, with a major focus on breast, gynecologic, prostate, and other localized or locally advanced cancers.

Rebecca Arend, MD, MPH, has been appointed Gynecology Oncologist Vice Chair of the NRG Translational Science Committee. A gynecologic oncologist, surgeon-scientist, and clinical trial leader, Arend studies how molecular features of cancer can be converted into more precise methods of screening, prognosis, and treatment selection. Her work includes DNA, RNA, protein, and circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, a form of genetic material released by tumors into the bloodstream that can provide a minimally invasive view of cancer biology.

Arend’s research is especially focused on ovarian, endometrial, cervical, and other gynecologic cancers, diseases in which tumors can vary substantially at the molecular level even when they arise in the same organ. Biomarker-driven treatment aims to identify those differences and match patients with therapies most likely to work. As Associate Director of Clinical Research at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arend oversees trial infrastructure, protocol development, workforce training, and the integration of translational research into clinical programs. Within NRG, she is Translational Science Chair of the Ovarian Subcommittee under the Gynecologic Cancer Committee and is involved in developing early-career oncology investigators.

Robin Lockhorst, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS, has been appointed Chair of the NRG Pharmacy Subcommittee. With more than 15 years of experience at Avera Cancer Institute, Lockhorst has worked across oncology pharmacy, bone marrow transplantation, solid organ transplantation, hepatology, and clinical research. She currently serves as Director of Clinical Research, Oncology, where she is expanding satellite research programs and helping build early-phase trial capabilities across the Great Plains region.

Pharmacy leadership is central to the safe delivery of experimental cancer treatments. Clinical pharmacists review protocols, manage investigational drug services, verify dosing and drug interactions, and help ensure that treatment is administered according to highly specific study requirements. Lockhorst has led operational improvements in these areas while supporting protocol review and multidisciplinary education. Her work has also included mentoring pharmacy trainees and helping advance South Dakota’s drug donation and repository pilot program, an initiative designed to improve access to eligible medications.

David Miyamoto, MD, PhD, has been appointed Radiation Oncology Vice Chair of the NRG Translational Science Committee. A radiation oncologist and physician-scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital, an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, and an Associate Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Miyamoto investigates how molecular testing and advanced imaging can make cancer treatment more predictive. His laboratory research has emphasized liquid biopsies, tumor genomic analysis, and imaging technologies for prostate and bladder cancers.

The goal of this work is to identify biological signals that reveal whether a tumor is responding to treatment, developing resistance, or progressing before those changes become obvious through conventional clinical assessments. Miyamoto has led NIH-funded research involving liquid biopsy and prostate-specific membrane antigen, or PSMA, positron emission tomography imaging in patients receiving Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy. This treatment delivers radiation to cancer cells that express PSMA, and biomarkers may help determine which patients are most likely to benefit. Miyamoto has also served in translational leadership roles on major multicenter studies, including NRG-GU015, ECOG-ACRIN-NRG 8185, and the PARTIQoL trial.

Elena Nelson, MBA, CCRC, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Clinical Research Associate Subcommittee within the NRG Protocol Support Committee. Nelson brings more than 15 years of oncology research experience from the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, where she serves as Data Management and Academic Research Consortium Network Manager. In that role, she leads data operations for approximately 150 trials involving solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, pediatric cancers, and early-phase therapies.

High-quality data are essential to determining whether a treatment is safe and effective. Nelson has developed standardized workflows to improve the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of trial information, including data submitted for NCI-sponsored and experimental therapeutics studies. She is also a RECIST subject matter expert. RECIST, or Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, is a standardized system used to measure whether tumors have shrunk, remained stable, or grown during treatment. Nelson has worked with NRG on the RECIST CLASS project and has served as both a member and mentor within the Protocol Support Committee.

Cortney Montgomery, MD, MHSc, has been appointed Vice Chair of the NRG Protocol Support Committee Mentorship Subcommittee. With more than 25 years of experience in oncology research nursing and clinical trial coordination, Montgomery has worked in academic medical centers, comprehensive cancer centers, and direct patient-care settings. At UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, she serves as a Clinical Research Coordinator and Treatment Nurse, managing patient screening, informed consent, investigational drug administration, chemotherapy delivery, and protocol compliance while helping establish a new Clinical Translational Research Center.

Montgomery has coordinated Phase I through Phase IV studies, including industry-sponsored, cooperative group, and investigator-initiated trials. Her clinical research experience spans breast cancer, gynecologic oncology, and early-phase therapeutics, where careful monitoring is particularly important because experimental treatments may involve uncertain dosing, novel mechanisms, or previously unrecognized toxicities. She has also contributed to clinical trial awareness and outreach through the Carol Glock Foundation and has served NRG as a committee member, mentor, and liaison to the Breast Cancer Committee and Uterine Corpus Cancer Subcommittee.

Together, the appointments highlight how cancer research increasingly depends on collaboration across disciplines rather than on isolated discoveries. Biomarker scientists need reliable clinical samples and high-quality datasets; radiation and medical oncologists require pharmacy systems capable of delivering complex therapies; and clinical research teams need experienced mentors to sustain the workforce behind multicenter trials. NRG Oncology said the new leaders will help advance its research while continuing the contributions of outgoing vice chairs. Current committee leadership and member openings are listed on the organization’s website.

Subject of Research: Leadership changes in a major oncology clinical trials network, with emphasis on translational cancer research, biomarkers, pharmacy operations, clinical trial data management, and research mentorship.

Article Title: NRG Oncology Appoints New Leaders to Advance Precision Cancer Research and Clinical Trials

Web References: https://www.nrgoncology.org/Current-Openings ; https://www.nrgoncology.org

References: NRG Oncology leadership announcement and organizational information provided in the source material.

Keywords: NRG Oncology, cancer research, clinical trials, translational science, biomarkers, circulating tumor DNA, liquid biopsy, radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, pharmacy research, RECIST, precision medicine, oncology leadership, clinical research mentorship

As chair, Welm inherits a multifaceted mandate to sculpt a visionary roadmap aligning research excellence with academic innovation, fostering a robust ecosystem that bridges laboratory discoveries with clinical applications. Her leadership will be instrumental in steering the department’s research priorities in synergy with University of Utah Health and Huntsman Cancer Institute, ensuring that cutting-edge scientific insights translate into tangible improvements in cancer diagnoses and therapies.

Balancing administrative stewardship with scientific oversight, Welm will spearhead efforts to secure competitive federal and private funding, emphasizing peer-reviewed grants, particularly from the National Institutes of Health. She will also oversee academic programming, faculty development, and resource allocation—pillars essential for sustaining a vibrant research culture that prioritizes both fundamental and translational oncology.

Welm’s expertise is deeply rooted in elucidating the complex mechanisms underlying breast cancer metastasis—a formidable challenge in oncology where understanding cellular dissemination and colonization is pivotal to innovating treatments. Her labs have successfully transitioned foundational discoveries into clinical hypotheses, illuminating pathways that govern tumor progression and therapeutic resistance.

Notably, Welm’s research employs sophisticated molecular biology techniques, coupled with advanced in vivo models, to dissect the signaling networks and tumor microenvironment interactions that fuel metastatic spread. This integrative approach underscores a commitment to unraveling cancer’s heterogeneity and pinpointing precise molecular vulnerabilities amenable to intervention.

Describing Welm’s appointment, interim dean Sam Finlayson, MD, highlights her unique capacity to fuse visionary science with collaborative leadership. This dual capability is essential in today’s intricate biomedical landscape, where interdisciplinary teams catalyze breakthroughs, and mentorship shapes future scientific leaders. Welm exemplifies this paradigm through her record of fostering translational initiatives and securing substantial external funding.

Welm’s academic journey traces a path through rigorous training and impactful scholarship. She obtained her PhD in cell and molecular biology at Baylor College of Medicine, completing advanced postdoctoral studies at the University of California, San Francisco. Since founding her laboratory at Huntsman Cancer Institute in 2007, she has consistently expanded its role as a nexus for pioneering breast cancer metastasis research.

Her ascension to chair is lauded by Mary Beckerle, PhD, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute, who emphasizes Welm’s international stature and exceptional ability to catalyze interdisciplinary collaborations spanning researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates. Such coalitions are vital in translating molecular insights into clinical innovations capable of improving patient outcomes globally.

Welm’s accolades attest to her scientific impact. In 2023, she received the University of Utah Distinguished Research Award and the American Association for Cancer Research Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research. Additionally, her presidency of the Metastasis Research Society underscores her leadership on the international stage, facilitating research aimed at understanding and interrupting metastatic disease processes.

Articulating her vision, Welm expresses a profound commitment to advancing a culture of scientific excellence and innovative collaboration within the department. She aims to harness the department’s strengths to train the next generation of cancer researchers and clinicians, positioning the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute at the forefront of emerging cancer therapies and precision medicine.

Welm’s leadership comes at a time when interdisciplinary and translational research is increasingly recognized as essential in oncology. By guiding the department’s academic and operational frameworks, she is poised to elevate its national profile and impact, ensuring that discoveries in molecular oncology swiftly inform clinical trials and patient care strategies.

Her predecessor, Brad Cairns, PhD, is credited with laying a robust foundation through recruiting high-impact investigators and fostering environments conducive to translational breakthroughs. Though stepping down as chair, Cairns remains a vital figure as a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator, continuing to influence cancer research and mentorship at the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute.

The Huntsman Cancer Institute itself, designated as a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center, serves a vast multi-state region with cutting-edge research and clinical trials focused on a cancer-free future. Its integration with University of Utah Health’s academic and clinical resources creates a synergistic hub for innovative cancer care and discovery.

With over 300 active clinical trials and more than 250 research teams, Huntsman Cancer Institute exemplifies the translational research model Welm aims to amplify. Its rich history of genetic discoveries and tailored cancer treatments provides a fertile context for Welm’s leadership to further scientific exploration into the molecular determinants of cancer metastasis and therapeutic resistance.

Located within a comprehensive academic health system, University of Utah Health boasts extensive biomedical research infrastructure and healthcare delivery networks, encompassing multiple hospitals and clinics. This environment offers Welm a powerful platform to align research priorities with patient-centered care, accelerating the bench-to-bedside trajectory of oncological innovations.

In sum, Alana Welm’s appointment as chair of the Department of Oncological Sciences heralds a transformative era for cancer research at the University of Utah. Her scientific acumen, strategic vision, and commitment to mentorship promise to advance molecular oncology, bolster translational research, and ultimately impact cancer treatment paradigms on a national and international scale.

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Subject of Research: Breast cancer metastasis, translational oncology, molecular mechanisms of cancer progression
Article Title: Alana Welm, PhD, Named Chair of Oncological Sciences at University of Utah, Catalyzing Advances in Breast Cancer Metastasis Research
News Publication Date: Not explicitly provided; assumed current
Web References:
– https://medicine.utah.edu/faculty/alana-l-welm
– https://medicine.utah.edu/oncological-sciences
– https://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/
References: Not explicitly cited in the original content
Image Credits: Emily Bade, Huntsman Cancer Institute
Keywords: Breast cancer, cancer metastasis, translational research, oncological sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah

Flaherty serves as the director of clinical cancer research at the Mass General Cancer Center, a leader in oncology, and holds the Richard Saltonstall Endowed Chair. He is also a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School as well as an associate member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. His dual roles as a clinician and researcher allow him to bridge the gap between cutting-edge scientific research and its application in clinical settings.

His research has been notably focused on melanoma, where he has made crucial strides in understanding the molecular consequences of targeting oncogenic pathways. Flaherty has been at the forefront of developing innovative therapeutic approaches for melanoma, leading to groundbreaking enhancements in treatment options. His work has particularly emphasized the association between genetic characteristics of tumors and the efficacy of targeted therapies, bringing new hope to patients diagnosed with this aggressive form of skin cancer.

Flaherty’s groundbreaking contributions to the field are perhaps best exemplified by his pioneering work with vemurafenib—a revolutionary drug designed to target the BRAF V600E mutation, which occurs in a significant percentage of melanoma cases. The success of this therapy not only provided a new treatment avenue for patients but also established a model for future targeted therapies. His early clinical trials laid the groundwork for what would become a series of FDA-approved combination treatments that have transformed the therapeutic landscape for melanoma.

In addition to his research, Flaherty is deeply committed to mentorship and professional development within the scientific community. As AACR President-Elect, he aims to reinforce initiatives that cultivate a new generation of translational researchers. He recognizes the necessity of addressing health disparities in cancer treatment and is particularly focused on training scientists who are dedicated to serving underserved populations. His vision includes fostering collaboration across disciplines and ensuring that innovative cancer research translates into practice for all patients, regardless of their socio-economic background.

The AACR, with a membership exceeding 58,000 individuals from 141 countries, plays a crucial role in connecting professionals dedicated to cancer research. Under Flaherty’s proposed leadership, the organization is expected to enhance efforts in research funding, education, communication, and scientific advocacy. By aligning the AACR’s mission with advanced research initiatives, Flaherty hopes to stimulate further advancements in cancer prevention and therapy.

Margaret Foti, the CEO of the AACR, commended Flaherty’s dedication and exceptional service, predicting a thriving future for the organization under his leadership. She emphasized his remarkable achievements in targeted melanoma therapies and noted that his mentoring efforts have significantly influenced the next generation of cancer researchers. Her support of Flaherty’s presidency highlights the collective aspiration within the AACR community to continue breaking barriers in cancer research.

Flaherty’s history with AACR dates back to 2001, during which he has garnered respect and recognition, having been elected as a Fellow of the AACR Academy this past year. His service on the AACR Board of Directors, spanning from 2019 to 2022, demonstrates his active involvement in key decision-making processes and strategic planning within the organization. Currently, he serves on several committees, contributing his expertise to various initiatives aimed at healthcare advancement.

Flaherty’s influence is also evident in the structure and content of the AACR Annual Meetings. His leadership roles on the Annual Meeting Program Committee, including chair and cochair positions, reflect a commitment to fostering impactful discourse within the scientific community. Additionally, his participation in clinical trials committees further stresses his dedication to evaluating emerging cancer therapies.

Moreover, Flaherty has served as the editor-in-chief of the AACR journal Clinical Cancer Research, amplifying the visibility of critical research and fostering rigorous peer-reviewed scholarship. His editorial roles signify his dedication to ensuring the dissemination of cutting-edge research that informs both scientific and clinical practices related to cancer.

Beyond his editorial work, Flaherty’s accolades illustrate his significant standing in the oncology community. Recognized with the OncLive Giants of Cancer Care Award for his contributions to melanoma treatment, he has also received multiple high-profile awards, such as the Society for Melanoma Research Lifetime Achievement Award. Each recognition underscores his lasting impact on the field of cancer research, particularly in developing therapies that improve patient outcomes.

Academically, Flaherty’s foundation is rooted in rigorous training; he completed his undergraduate studies in neurobiology at Yale University and earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University. This educational background has informed his clinical practice and research pursuits, emphasizing both scientific inquiry and patient-centered care.

As Flaherty prepares to assume his role as President-Elect, the AACR anticipates his leadership will catalyze new advancements in cancer research and treatment. His vision revolves around integrating innovative scientific discoveries with clinical applications, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations receive the therapeutic benefits of ongoing research.

The election of Keith T. Flaherty as President-Elect of the AACR represents a promising step forward for the organization and the broader cancer research community. His leadership is poised to inspire ongoing collaboration, mentorship, and groundbreaking discovery essential for combating cancer in all its forms.

Subject of Research: Cancer Research
Article Title: AACR Elects Keith T. Flaherty as President-Elect for 2025-2026
News Publication Date: [Not provided]
Web References: [Not provided]
References: [Not provided]
Image Credits: [Not provided]

Keywords: Cancer research, AACR, Melanoma, Targeted therapies, Clinical trials, BRAF V600E mutation, Oncology, Translational research, Health disparities, Mentorship, Scientific community, Cancer treatment.