As a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the principal function of Dartmouth Cancer Center is to coordinate a program of research, education, and patient care conducted as part of Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, one that effectively promotes joint initiatives, collaborations, and interactions within and among its components.
The Cancer Center's activities are characterized by interdisciplinary collaboration to provide a more effective means for fostering bi-directional translational research within the Cancer Center, and, eventually, into effective interventions to prevent or treat cancer.
The Cancer Center's role in fostering interdisciplinary research is the principal mandate of the Cancer Center Support Grant (Core Grant) provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In addition to supporting administrative and executive leadership functions, the Core Grant supports Shared Resources and provides developmental funds to facilitate the cancer-related interdisciplinary research of Cancer Center scientists.
Cancer Center members generally hold a primary appointment in a department of Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Certain members have a dual primary appointment both in an academic department and in the Cancer Center.
Refer to the following sections to learn more:
Membership criteria
Cancer Center members are selected for their scientific excellence and for their commitment to work together in a scientific community.
Membership is available to Dartmouth faculty-at the assistant professor level or higher-who further the research mission of the Cancer Center through an active interest in cancer biology, prevention, treatment, or management. Each Investigator is appointed to a specific Research Program reflecting his/her interests, and is expected to participate fully in program activities.
Eligibility for membership is accorded to those who meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Have current cancer-related peer-reviewed funding as a principal investigator.
- Have had cancer-related research support within the past three calendar years and intend to continue in cancer research.
- Have not had cancer-related peer-reviewed funding as a principal investigator within the past three years BUT actively participate in cancer research that contributes to the Cancer Center's mission of collaborative cancer research. This interest is best demonstrated through participation on grants and publications.
- Participate in clinical cancer research through protocol development or implementation.
Members who provide support of clinical research, biostatistics, pathology, and the like, are considered central to the mission of the Cancer Center and its Research Programs.
Obligations of membership
- Each Investigator must belong to a Research Program and actively participate in meetings and other Program activities. Specific requirements for participation may be defined/negotiated by individual Program directors and their Program members. Investigators ordinarily will have one primary Program affiliation, although they are encouraged to interact with other Programs. In very rare cases, dual memberships are allowed by the Cancer Research Committee for an investigator whose research interests clearly bridge two Programs.
- Each Investigator will provide up-to-date curricula vitae, NIH biosketches, other support, and copies of their publications annually, or more often if needed by Cancer Center staff for grant preparation.
- Each Investigator will identify his/her association with Dartmouth Cancer Center and acknowledge the use of NCI-supported Shared Resources in all publications arising from research conducted while a member of the Center.
- Each Research Program director, or the Program co-directors, will review Program membership annually to assess participation in the Program and productivity in cancer-related research. The Program director will meet with each of the nonparticipating members to discuss his/her future with the Program, and to determine eligibility to remain an active member. Investigator status may be withdrawn, after suitable warning, from anyone who consistently does not participate in program activities.
- Cancer Center Members will be responsive when occasionally asked to meet with potential donors and participate in fund-raising activities.
Privileges of membership
Investigators and Associate Investigators have the following privileges:
- Enhanced access to collaboration with scientists and clinicians in related areas of inquiry.
- Access to Cancer Center Shared Resources.
- Access to support for clinical trials through the Clinical Research Office.
- Ability to apply for developmental funds allocated by the Cancer Center.
- Assistance, as Administrative resources allow, with pre-award and post-award grant management.
- Regular information regarding funding opportunities from Federal and private sources.
- As deemed appropriate by the Associate Director for Scientific Affairs and Administration, may access assistance with grant preparation and submission.
- Access to administrative Communications services for assistance with news inquiries and press releases.
- Promotion of on-campus activities and seminars.
Membership application
Any faculty member who wishes to apply for designation as a Cancer Center Investigator should describe his/her qualifications and cancer research interests to the appropriate Program director in written form.
The application should include a curriculum vitae. If the Program director supports the candidacy, the application will be proposed to the Cancer Research Committee for approval.