Membership Criteria for the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center

Full Cancer Center Members

New Appointment – New Full Members will be researchers who are active investigators participating in cancer-relevant research at The University of Iowa and are currently supported by peer-reviewed funding for that research.  Peer reviewed support that qualifies applicants for Full Membership can result from external peer review or internal peer review by the HCCC Research Review Committee.  Approved grants on which other investigators are the Principal Investigator can qualify a researcher for Full Membership if the applicant provides a description of how their contribution to the research represents a unique scientific contribution to the research project.  Established cancer researchers recruited from intramural government research organizations within the prior three years will be eligible for Full Membership based on a solid cancer research publication record in the past 4 years.  Associate Members or Clinical Members who wish to apply to be Full Members may do so at any time, and will be evaluated by the criteria outlined above.

Reappointment - Full Members will be reviewed every 3 years.  Reappointment as a Full Member will be made if the investigator continues to perform and publish cancer-relevant research at The University of Iowa and has peer-reviewed funding for that research within the past 4 years.  External peer-reviewed support is necessary for reappointment to Full Membership.  Approved grants on which other investigators are the Principal Investigator can qualify a researcher for reappointment to Full Membership if the applicant provides a description of how their contribution to the research represents a unique scientific contribution to the research project. 

Associate Members - Associate Members will be active cancer researchers who are early in their careers and have not yet obtained peer-reviewed funding for research, or established cancer researchers who have not had peer-reviewed funding for the past 4 years.

Clinical Members – Clinical Members will be clinicians who dedicate a minimum of 50% of their effort to the care of cancer patients at the University of Iowa and have demonstrated a commitment to the cancer center research mission.  This can include enrollment of patients on clinical protocols or serving as investigators on cancer research projects such as industry supported clinical trials.

Program Affiliation
Each HCCC member is formally affiliated with a single research program. However, many HCCC members work in areas that relate strongly to more than one program. When members have significant interests that extend to additional programs, they are considered "Collaborating Members" of the other relevant programs. "Members" and "Collaborating Members" both participate fully in the program activities. Thus, HCCC members are primary "Members" of a single program, but can be "Collaborating Members" of additional programs.

Procedures for Application
Individuals applying for Full or Associate membership should submit an application form, available from Cancer Center Administration or the Cancer Center Website, to the appropriate Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Program Leader. The application should include:

1. a statement describing the scope and relevance of the individual's cancer-related activities, and research interests
2. proposed affiliation with one of the Cancer Center research programs
3. an NIH biographical sketch form and current cancer-related grant support information or a CV

The Program Leader will review the application, signoff, and forward the application to Cancer Center Administration. The application will be forwarded to the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Membership Committee (HCCCMC). Cancer Center Membership Applications are forwarded to Committee Members via campus mail Votesheets are completed, signed, and returned to Cancer Center Administration, and, based on the Votesheets, the Membership Committee Chair makes a recommendation for Membership Status to the Director. Final appointments will be made by the Cancer Center Director.

Individuals applying for clinical membership should submit application form to Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Administration, 5970 JPP, or cancer-center@uiowa.edu. The application should include a statement describing the scope and relevance of the individual's cancer-related activities and clinical activities.

Membership Review
Cancer Center Members will be reviewed every three years. Full and associate members will be expected to meet HCCC criteria, as evidenced by continuing productivity in cancer-related research (peer-reviewed publications and/or grants; training activities in cancer; national and community service including study sections, consultation to NCI etc.) and service to the HCCC (administrative contributions; HCCC committees, in house peer-review activities; community/educational activities). Those members who have left the University or whose interests no longer meet the requirements for membership of the HCCC will have their membership terminated.