Guidelines & Application

Shayna Showalter, MD, is a member of the Cancer Therapeutics Research Program and co-lead of the Breast Translational Research Team.

To be eligible for full membership in the Cancer Center you must be a member of the University of Virginia faculty with a rank of at least assistant professor. Instructors and fellows are not eligible for membership.

New members must demonstrate:

• Interest in cancer-relevant research and the intention to satisfy one or more of the criteria for renewed members within three (3) years

Renewed members must demonstrate at least one of the following:

• Significant grant funding: Principal investigator (PI)  of a cancer-relevant peer-reviewed funded research grant (R01 or equivalent of at least $125,000 in direct costs per year)
• Significant clinical research activity:
  • Principal Investigator of an investigator-initiated cancer-relevant treatment trial
  • Site PI of at least five (5) cancer-relevant clinical trials
• Significant collaborative contributions: co-author on at least two (2) cancer-relevant publications that are intra- or inter-programmatic collaborations.
• Key leadership role within the Cancer Center (associate director, program leader, member of the CCSG Executive Committee, Translational Research Team leader)

Associate Members must display the potential to contribute in a meaningful way to reduce the cancer burden, either through laboratory, clinical, or population-based research, or through education. The Associate Member category includes investigators who enroll patients in cancer clinical trials, but may not be the lead PIs, and those whose primary focus is not cancer, but who have expertise that is important in cancer research.  Associate members are eligible for all the benefits of Cancer Center membership with the exception of receiving a co-pay at the shared resources.

All appointments are for an initial term of three (3) years and are then reviewed annually by the CCSG Executive Committee based on the criteria outlined above. Individuals who do not meet these criteria are discussed at the CCSG Executive Committee meeting and will be placed on one (1) year probation. If the individual does not meet the criteria for membership after one year of probation, they will be shifted to Associate Member status. Early-career investigators may be placed on a second year of probation because we believe it is important that they have access to the full range of UVACCC support during the early phase of their careers.

• Respond in a timely manner to requests for information such as:
  • Review of publications for core usage and community outreach
  • Trainees
  • Evaluation of cores
  • Progress reports – pilot projects, recruitment, or retention support
• Acknowledge the CCSG (P30CA044579) in any publications, presentations, or abstracts resulting from use of the shared resources for which I received a co-pay or pilot funding directly from the CCSG. These publications need to be PMCID compliant.
• Acknowledgement of support from Cancer Center resources (for example: shared resources, research development, pilot projects, Protocol Development Team, Office of Clinical Research, Partners in Discovery, Cancer Registry) in any relevant publications or presentations
• Adhere to the Cancer Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Participate in Cancer Center activities, such as seminar series, journal club, program meetings, retreats, etc.
• Serve as reviewer of internal funding opportunities when requested
• Submit human subjects protocols for required reviews (PRC and IRB)
• Submit accrual data (if required)

All applicants are encouraged to:

• Review the Research Programs
• Choose which program is best suited to their research interests
• Discuss their membership goals with the relevant program leader

Investigators wishing to become members of the UVACCC should begin the process by preparing these documents and apply using our online application system below:

1. A 1-2 page letter addressed to Director of the Cancer Center. In the letter:
   • Summarize your research program and its cancer relevance
   • List collaborations with other cancer investigators
   • Describe your commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in practice, research, and internal and external team building and collaboration
2. NIH biographical sketch or CV including Information about external funding (e.g., NIH “Other Support” page)