Cancer institute appoints associate director

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey appointed Howard L. Kaufman, MD, FACS, as associate director for clinical science and chief surgical officer.

As head of clinical science, Kaufman will oversee all aspects of clinical research, including how resulting discoveries translate from the laboratory bench to patient bedside.

“Rapid advances in cancer immunotherapy and genomic analysis are enabling more precise and personalized treatments. With that, we can further examine how these new therapies are impacting patients through clinical trials and take that information back to the laboratory for fine tuning,” Kaufman said in a press release.

In his new role, Kaufman will seek to increase the scientific depth of trials developed on site by cancer institute investigators and streamline protocol processes to enhance patient participation. He also will be responsible for launching a number of specialized trials aimed at both molecular targets and specific cancer disease sites.

“The addition of Dr. Kaufman to our team will enhance clinical research operations at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and further position our center as a leader in unique clinical trial design and delivery,” Robert S. DiPaola, MD, director of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, said in the release. “The ability to more effectively plan and conduct this type of research ultimately will result in more opportunities for patients to receive the very latest novel therapies.”

Kaufman also will take on a clinical role, seeing patients in the cancer institute’s Melanoma and Soft Tissue Oncology Program.