Huntsman Cancer Institute appoints clinical research director

David Gaffney, PhD, has been appointed senior director for clinical research at Huntsman Cancer Institute at University of Utah.

Gaffney will oversee clinical research efforts at the institute, home to more than 200 active cancer clinical trials.

He will serve as a member of the institute’s executive leadership board. His primary responsibilities will include clinical trial development, mentoring junior faculty and overseeing the quality of the institute’s clinical research portfolio.

“Dr. Gaffney is a distinguished clinician and translational researcher,” Mary Beckerle, PhD, CEO and director of Huntsman Cancer Institute, said in a press release. “His judgment, expertise and insight has helped craft a robust portfolio of high-quality clinical trials at [the institute], extending opportunities to patients suffering from common and rare cancers, and leading to improvements in cancer prevention. His contributions and exceptional success are a reflection of his commitment to collaborative, team-based research.”

Gaffney joined the University of Utah faculty in 1996. He serves as professor and vice chair of the department of radiation oncology. He has held several national leadership positions in gynecologic cancer and radiation oncology, and he serves as co-chairman of NCI’s gynecologic cancer steering committee.

“I’m honored by this opportunity, and am looking forward to working closely with [the institute’s] leadership team to continue to advance our understanding of better ways to treat cancer, including through the development of new drugs,” Gaffney said in the release. “Huntsman Cancer Institute has some of the most gifted physicians and researchers in the world and an outstanding group of clinical trial experts. I am thrilled to be part of a team dedicated to [the institute’s] mission, to help create and improve cancer treatments, and provide patients with the best treatment options possible.”