Membership in the University of Illinois Cancer Center

Privileges of University of Illinois Cancer Center membership include the following:

Priority access to Cancer Center-funded shared resources at favorable rates. Full members receive a 10% Cancer Center subsidy on regular rates. These state-of-the art shared resources, under the direction of Donald Vander Griend, PhD, the Cancer Center Associate Director for Shared Resources include:

• Cancer Bioinformatics Shared Resource (CBSR)
• Biostatistics Shared Resource Core (BSR)
• Cancer Genomics Shared Resource (CGSR)
• Data Integration Shared Resource (DISR)
• Flow Cytometry Shared Resource (FCSR)
• Translational Pathology Shared Resource (TPSR)

Clinical research support for protocol development and management through the Clinical Trials Office, which provides a comprehensive network of support throughout the lifecycle of each clinical trial.

Members-only funding opportunities, including the annual pilot project funding program.

Access to the Grants Development Office, which is a full-service research proposal resource for cancer-related proposal and pre-award support.

Research proposal and grant submission support.

Participation in shared-interest disease working groups, which include Brain, Breast, Cancer Disparities, Gastrointestinal, Prostate, Gynecology, Head and Neck, and Lung.  New groups are added based on member interest.

Cancer Center Seminars, Retreats, and Symposia.

Access to the Cancer Center Communications team. This team provides services including:

• Strategic communications planning and implementation of news articles for print, website, and social media venues
• Creating and writing brochures, news releases, web content, videos, and other communications collateral to promote Cancer Center to various audiences
• Managing the Cancer Center’s Brand Standards and providing templates for flyers, PowerPoint presentations, and logos

Eligibility criteria for University of Illinois Cancer Center membership varies according to the types of membership.

Full Member Criteria

In order to be eligible for full membership, researchers must be full-time faculty members. 

Additionally, they must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Active in cancer research, as evidenced by serving as Principal Investigator (PI) on a  peer-reviewed, cancer-related research grant (as defined by NCI guidelines) 
• A leader in cancer clinical research as evidenced by serving as any one of these roles: 
  1. Principal Investigator of University of Illinois Cancer Center Investigator-Initiated Trial with annual accrual of 5 patients 
  2. PI of an industry-sponsored trial where the member was a primary scientific contributor to the design, implementation, and monitoring of the trial.
  3. Protocol chairperson for a national peer-reviewed (CTEP) clinical trial OR a senior leader of a national peer-reviewed funded cooperative group OR a lead investigator-initiated cancer-related clinical trial

Associate Member Criteria

Associate membership is designed for the following faculty:

• UI faculty members who are involved in cancer research and/or patient care and contribute to the success of the Cancer Center, but do not yet fulfill the criteria for Full Member
• Newly recruited full-time research faculty who have not obtained cancer-related funding and are in their start-up period
• Established faculty from other disciplines who demonstrate a cancer-related research interest, either through publications and grant submissions, but have not yet obtained cancer-related peer-reviewed funding

Although Associate Members are not required to have peer-reviewed support or play a significant role in a national cooperative group, they must show the promise of attaining these goals. Progress is reviewed as a part of the annual review process. 

It is anticipated that Associate Members will meet Full Member criteria within 6 years of initial application.

Affiliate Member

Affiliate membership is designed primarily for clinical faculty who make meaningful contributions to the research, education, patient care, and community outreach activities of the the Cancer Center, but do not meet the above criteria for full or associate membership.

Responsibilities of University of Illinois Cancer Center Membership include: 

• Submit all clinical cancer studies to the Protocol Review Committee (PRC) for scientific review (required for CCSG- P30 grant for designation).
• Utilize Cancer Center shared resources and acknowledge the use of Cancer Center facilities, shared resources, space, or assistance (when appropriate) in research. publications, presentations, and grant submissions
• Participate in Research Program activities and initiatives.
• Participate in Cancer Center-sponsored meetings, retreats, and seminars.
• Actively participate in the research programs and serve on Cancer Center committees.
• Develop interactions with other Cancer Center members as measured by joint publications, joint grants, or joint research activities.
• Accrue patients to institutional clinical trials and, where appropriate, to NCI National Clinical Trials Network trials that are activated at the Cancer Center.
• Provide accurate annual updates on scientific accomplishments and special requests for research progress, clinical trials, publications, and biosketch in a timely manner.
• Service on at least one Cancer Center committees or initiatives, including:
  • The annual Cancer Center Pilot Funding Committee
  • Serve as Judge in the annual Cancer Center research day poster competition
  • Mentorship of pipeline students in your lab or research projects
  • Participate in undergraduate or master level research poster/travel competition