NCCN appoints interim VP of oncology research program

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network appointed Robert C. Young, MD, as interim vice president of the NCCN Oncology Research Program.

Young — recognized for his treatment of lymphoma and ovarian cancer — is president of RCY Medicine, a consulting service focused on cancer center productivity, health care quality and health policy. He served as president and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center for 18 years, and he later served 2 years as chancellor.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Young as interim vice president of [the oncology research program],” Robert W. Carlson, MD, CEO of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network [NCCN], said in a press release. “As an original member and leader of NCCN, Dr. Young indeed was instrumental in initiating the practices and policies that have led to more than 20 years of success for the organization. We are sure his expertise will further enhance ORP’s position in the oncology community.”

As interim vice president, Young will be responsible for developing and managing NCCN’s centralized, standardized infrastructure for the conduct of clinical trials among its 26 NCCN member institutions and their community affiliates.

The NCCN Oncology Research Program fosters collaboration among NCCN member institutions and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to bring promising and effective new treatments to patients with cancer.

“I am very pleased to be working with NCCN again in this new capacity,” Young said in the release. “It’s exciting to be part of the team that brings new novel therapies to researchers at NCCN member institutions so that our patients can benefit from early access to these new medicines.”

Young has served as president of ASCO, American Cancer Society and International Gynecological Cancer Society. He also has served as chairman of the NCCN board of directors and chair of NCI’s board of scientific advisors.