Leadership, Planning and Evaluation

The Director, Deputy Director and Associate Directors of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC) comprise a select group of internationally and nationally known faculty members who have very defined roles. They share overall responsibility for operationalizing the vision of the SKCCC. To augment the impact of SKCCC research on cancer screening, detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment in its catchment area and throughout the world, the SKCCC has created a new five-year Strategic Plan, Innovation for Impact 2025, that defines future directions, prioritizes investments and provides mechanisms for assessment of the performance of Research Programs, Shared Resources (SRs) and other Cancer Center activities. In doing so, the SKCCC used an approach to planning and evaluation that involved leaders, enlisted Members, and engaged scientific and community advisors to secure advice for research planning, resource allocation and identification of new opportunities. Implementing Innovation for Impact 2025 will proceed with input from several key internal bodies, including an Executive Oversight Committee, Program Leaders Council, Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee, Data Safety Monitoring Committee, Laboratory SRs Committee, Clinical Research Operations Committee, Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination, and Community Outreach and Engagement. The governance of the SKCCC functions with two major values: maximizing the impact of SKCCC resources (people, space and funds) to achieve research goals, and creating an efficient, effective, responsive and collegial environment that promotes and fosters collaborative team science. An External Advisory Board (EAB) populated with national leaders representing major areas of cancer research, administration and advocacy has played a critical role in the evaluation of Scientific Programs and the re-engineering of the Programmatic structure at the SKCCC during the past CCSG funding period. EAB Members also have generously provided individual consultations on topics reflecting their specific areas of expertise. For the next funding period, the SKCCC will monitor the productivity and effectiveness of the Research Programs, SRs and Senior Leaders. The SKCCC leadership team will continue to respond to EAB criticisms earnestly and to provide reports back on the impact of EAB suggestions.