A Comprehensive Cancer Center Designated by the National Cancer Institute

Membership Policy

The Significance of Membership

The research capacity of UC Irvine's Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center derives from its members, who are drawn from the university's exceptional wealth of top physicians, medical researchers, biologists, physicists, chemists, mathematicians, engineers, computer scientists and social scientists. This coalition of individuals with a variety of viewpoints and expertise creates a culture of innovation, enabling members to view issues from multiple perspectives and allowing them to call upon the talents, wisdom and knowledge of their colleagues.

Cancer center members work together to share know-how and talent in order to:

Apply the highest standards of safety, therapeutics and knowledge

Apply modern techniques of basic, clinical and population science to the study of cancer and use them to benefit all populations affected by cancer

Understand and eliminate disparities in cancer care and health differences between diverse population groups

Conduct multidisciplinary clinical treatment programs that provide patients with the most appropriate and effective combinations of advanced therapies available, including experimental therapies

Develop evidence-based oncology to inform and transform cancer care

Educate and inform the community about the significance of cancer research and the application of research discoveries to cancer prevention, treatment and care

Initiate and develop cancer prevention, risk assessment and control research

Provide access to clinical trials for cancer patients, community oncologists and all populations, including medically underserved communities

Stimulate, support and facilitate collaborative interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in cancer through a multi-tiered research infrastructure that includes scientific programs, shared resources, organized leadership, pilot funding, interactive meetings and targeted recruitment

Provide education and training in cancer research and advanced cancer care for residents, post-doctoral fellows, clinical investigators and healthcare professionals at all levels of training and experience

Translate discoveries made in the laboratory, the clinic and the community into new applications that enhance cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and survivorship

Membership Eligibility

Full Member Status

Professor and Associate Professor (& equivalent) - must meet one of the following two criteria:

Have active peer-reviewed extramural cancer research funding (preferably NCI/NIH) as a principal investigator or named co-principal investigator

Have a consistent history in the design and implementation of cancer clinical protocols and the accrual of patients to these protocols as the principal investigator or named co-principal investigator

Assistant Professors (& equivalent) - must have established funding for cancer research or be able to demonstrate a research direction that enhances understanding of cancer directly, i.e., established investigations of mechanisms of cancer etiology and prevention

Associate Member Status

Professor and Associate Professor (& equivalent) - must meet one of the following two criteria:

Intends to have active peer-reviewed extramural cancer research funding (preferably NCI/NIH) as a principal investigator or named co-principal investigator within

Intends to design and implement cancer clinical protocols and to accrue patients as the principal investigator or named co-principal investigator

Assistant Professors (& equivalent) - must intend to establish funding for cancer research or be able to demonstrate a research and/or education direction that enhances our understanding of cancer directly

No Academic Appointment - must be able to demonstrate cancer-related or research activities

Objectives of the Cancer Center

To encourage and facilitate cancer research at UC Irvine
To develop new program areas and services to complement existing cancer research and clinical resources
To strengthen oncology teaching programs in pre-and post-doctoral fields and in the allied health professions
To contribute to eradicating cancer
To provide the highest quality of clinical care by promoting multidisciplinary diagnostic, treatment and prevention services, by demonstrating and evaluating new management techniques and by fostering the rapid clinical application of demonstrably useful methods of cancer management
To develop oncology programs by fostering new appointments of high quality and by providing developmental and core service support when required
To encourage cancer research growth by offering incentives to support junior investigators as well as shared-resource facility use

Membership Reappointment

All members will have their membership status reviewed for reappointment every two years. In addition to meeting the above criteria, a reappointment review also will evaluate activities associated with membership objectives. These objectives include collaborative activities with members of the cancer center's scientific programs, attendance at membership meetings sponsored by programs or by the center, participation in center research efforts, leadership in significant outside organizations engaged with cancer and participation in peer review study sections. Other demonstrations of interaction with the cancer program also will be considered. As a consequence of the review, members may have their categorical membership changed or terminated.

By NCI policy, members who join another NCI-designated Cancer Center must have their CFCCC membership terminated.

Membership Benefits

All categories of members are provided regular information, primarily through e-mail, about center research activities, symposia, education and outreach, as well as other activities in furtherance of the cancer center mission.

Members, in addition, receive the following benefits:

Priority access to cancer center shared resources
Ability to apply for competitive access to intramural funds provided by the center, notably, Grants-In-Aid for academic clinical oncologists, seed grants, bridge funding, and protocol specific data management support
Administrative support for the execution of cancer clinical contract and grant proposals and post award administration, as well as administrative support for the execution of major, collaborative funding proposals such as P01 and U01 proposals, "roadmap" proposals, T32 training grants, or SPORES; these proposals are characterized by substantial, multidisciplinary participation of researchers
Clinical Research Office, data management and recruitment support
Quality IRB administrative support
Access to the CFCCC information systems support team
Priority use of cancer center meeting facilities
Ability to apply for CCSG-supported leadership positions
Access to office and research space controlled by the cancer center
Access to the CFCCC Director of Development for assistance with fundraising

Access to cancer-related administrative support and resources such as: Survey Monkey, recording devices, cameras, laptops, projectors and video-conferencing software.

Membership Responsibilities

As part of the cancer research community, the benefits received by members entail certain responsibilities, namely:

A focus on cancer research regardless of perspective (e.g., basic scientist, clinical researcher, etc.)

Demonstrated commitment to collaborative activities with other members

Acknowledge center membership in publications, cancer-related presentations and poster presentations

Acknowledge CCSG support (CA-62203) if cancer center shared resources are used to conduct the reported research

Annual submission of (1) a current statement of "other support" and (2) a current four-page National Institutes of Health biosketch showing the most recent cancer publications

Renewal of membership every two years

Regular attendance at meetings of the program(s) to which the member belongs

Reasonable availability for research-related activities, including mentoring activities, reviewer assignments, fundraising activities and service on center committees formed to enhance research

Attendance at the annual cancer center research retreat

Submission of information requested on behalf of the cancer center