Research Programs

Cancer Center Membership

Cancer Center membership is granted by the Program in Oncology of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The following guidelines describe the benefits and obligations of Cancer Center membership:

Program in Oncology Guidelines for Membership

  1. Overview

    The Program in Oncology is the academic core of the Cancer Center. Appointment of faculty as a member of the Program recognizes a level of excellence in and dedication to cancer-related teaching, research, patient care, and community outreach activities. Members of the program are eligible for consideration for access to all services, use of space, and financial support.

  2. Mission

    The Program in Oncology's mission is to reach and generate interactions among individuals that enhance patient care, research, and education. The Program in Oncology is an umbrella for all cancer activities on campus. The objectives of the Program in Oncology are to: 1) enhance multi-disciplinary patient care in order to improve outcomes of patients with cancer; 2) maximize the Program in Oncology's research potential; and 3) directly provide and indirectly enhance education about cancer at all levels.

  3. Membership Guidelines

    Membership in the Program in Oncology is open to all faculty who will promote the mission of the Cancer Center. Applicants must fulfill all requirements in the appropriate category. There are two types of membership: Members and Associate Members.


    4. III. A. Members:
    1. Members are University of Maryland faculty who hold an academic appointment and who demonstrate a recent and promising history of peer-reviewed, extramural funding for cancer-related investigations, primarily as Principal Investigators. Applicants for membership must have recent cancer-related publications (last three years) in peer- reviewed professional journals.

      Or

      Are major contributors in the development and implementation of cancer-related institutional clinical trials. This may be manifested through the design, management, or sustained accrual of clinical studies. Applicants for membership must have recent cancer-related publications (last three years) in peer-reviewed professional journals.

      Or

      Faculty members with significant administrative responsibility for program, shared resources, or specialty area direction in the Program in Oncology.

    III. A (1). Responsibilities of Membership:

    1. Support the basic concept, mission, and goals of the Program in Oncology.
    2. Participate fully in one or more Program in Oncology research programs, collaborative efforts and communications about research and patient care initiatives.
    3. Submit the information requested in the Membership Application, and update membership information at least every three years.
    4. Provide the Program in Oncology with the information necessary to maintain current information about scientific activity and grant support in order to maintain the Program in Oncology's database on oncology-related activities.
    5. Request funds in grant applications to support the shared resource services provided to them by the Program in Oncology.
    6. Attend cancer seminars and program meetings in areas of interest.
    7. Include recognition of membership in the Program in Oncology on all cancer-related academic papers, grants, journal articles, poster sessions, and/or abstracts.
    8. Provide abstracts and papers to the respective program leader on request.
    9. Participate in cancer-related educational activities (both medical and graduate school) sponsored by the Program in Oncology.

    III. A (2). Benefits of Membership:

    1. Priority and discounted rates for use of Program in Oncology core facilities and shared resources.
    2. Opportunity to apply for a range of Program in Oncology support grants
    3. Inclusion in relevant promotional materials such as CME programs, and referral outreach activities that are developed by the Program in Oncology and the Cancer Center.

    Ill. B. Associate Members:
    Associate Members are University of Maryland faculty who demonstrate significant professional involvement in cancer research, but do not meet all criteria for Membership.

    Or

    Are new investigators whose research has great scientific potential that would be advanced by being supported by the benefits of Program in Oncology membership or for tenured faculty who are interested in translating their research from another field into cancer research.

    Or

    Have significant professional involvement in cancer care and/or education.

    III. B. (1). Responsibilities of Associate Membership:

    1. Support the basic concept, mission, and goals of the Program in Oncology.
    2. Participate fully in one or more Program in Oncology research programs, collaborative efforts and communications about research and patient care initiatives.
    3. Submit the information requested in the Membership Application and update membership information at least every three years.
    4. Provide the Program in Oncology with the information necessary to maintain current information about scientific activity and grant support in order to maintain the Program in Oncology's database on oncology-related activities.
    5. Request funds in grant applications to support the shared resource services provided to them by the Program in Oncology.
    6. Attend cancer seminars and program meetings in areas of interest.
    7. Include recognition of membership in the Program in Oncology on all cancer-related academic papers, grants, journal articles, poster sessions, and/or abstracts.
    8. Provide abstracts and papers to the respective program leader on request.
    9. Participate in cancer-related educational activities (both medical and graduate school) sponsored by the Program in Oncology.

    III. B. (2). Benefits of Associate Membership:

    1. Priority and discounted rates for use of Program in Oncology core facilities and shared resources.
    2. Opportunity to apply for a range of Program in Oncology support grants.
    3. Inclusion in relevant promotional materials such as CUM programs, and referral outreach activities developed by the Program in Oncology and the Cancer Center.

    IV. Appointment Process:

    1. Invitation to apply for membership may be initiated by the Director, Program in Oncology, Research Council member, or the prospective member may make initial application to the Program in Oncology with the recommendation of his/her Department Chair.

      The application will include a current curriculum vitae (including a description of current and past funding), a description of scientific/clinical/educational interest, and a description of current and/or planned interactions with the Program in Oncology (Attachment A), a Research Program Selection Form (Attachment B), and a signed Request for Appointment form (Attachment C).

      The Research Council reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Director, Program in Oncology.

      The appointment will be for a period of three years.

      The Research Council will review all members at least once every three years and may reassign membership categories based on current category criteria. Members must meet all the criteria listed for new applications in their current membership category or their membership status will be reassigned. All recommended changes will be forwarded to the Director of the Program in Oncology for formal approval.

      Designated Research Initiative Fund (DRIF) funds resulting from grants will be allocated between the primary Department and the Program in Oncology based upon the relative levels of support provided by the Department and the Program. The distributions (allocations) of DRIF funds shall be determined during development of the grant application, and documented on the percentage distributions section of the University routing form with sign-off by the Chair and the Director. Training and program grants originated through the Program in Oncology and/or involving Program in Oncology members in more than one Department will be administered through the Program in Oncology.


This page was last updated on: January 22, 2007.