Cancer Center Administration

CENTER ADMINISTRATION PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Center Administration at Rutgers Cancer Institute continues to evolve to optimize support of a consortium Comprehensive Cancer Center with statewide responsibility and a cancer program deployed across RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH), the largest health system in the state. Key responsibilities align with expectations of NCI-designated Center Administration and the Strategic Plan. Administration continues to be led by Linda Tanzer, the Center’s senior administrative executive. Gina Londino- Greenberg was promoted to Senior Director of Research Administration. Center Administration supported many important accomplishments over this grant period, a period of dramatic growth, including 1) Budget - oversaw a 57% increase in total operating budget, including an increase in state support from $31M to $53M; 2) Space - managed planning of new 12-story, 520,000 sf cancer center; 3) Recruitment - provided support to recruit/onboard 77 new faculty; 4) Clinical Research Operations- oversaw reorganization and new hiring models for Clinical Protocol and Data Monitoring (CPDM), creation of Clinical Trials Steering Committee, ongoing Lean Six Sigma process improvement, and improved network infrastructure, leading to an 80% increase in accruals to interventional treatment trials and improved staffing levels from ~66% to 90%; 5) Peer-reviewed funding -contributed to a 23% increase, including several major awards (e.g., NCI P01CA250957 and NCI/CaResearch UK Cancer Grand Challenges award OT2CA278609). Other key accomplishments of Administration include 2021-2025 Strategic Plan development, reporting, and evaluation activities. Administration further enabled transformative initiatives, including: development of a signature cancer immunology and immunotherapy initiative; providing Leadership with enhanced data analytics capabilities; and center restructuring to implement the Integrated Practice Agreement with RWJBH (optimizing impact on research). Over the next grant period, Administration will: 1) further integrate functions with research initiatives and Centers of Excellence by appointing experienced business managers to work with science leadership; 2) restructure support for faculty affairs and mentorship, and workforce development by appointing a Director to oversee these areas; 3) oversee the operationalization of the research floor of the new Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, supervise renovations to our current main facility and coordinate occupation of that space; and 4) work with Princeton University (PU) administration to assist plans to expand research and impact on cancer related public policy by hosting new administrative circles to address common issues.