Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) applauds President Biden for nominating Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and extends our deepest gratitude to recently confirmed Director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, for her steadfast leadership as Director of the NCI.
“Dr. Rathmell brings extensive scientific expertise and experience as a physician who has treated patients to the NCI at a truly crucial time for innovation.” said Ellen Sigal, Chair & Founder of Friends of Cancer Research. “It is fitting that such a decorated and dedicated oncologist should take the helm from the first female NCI Director, Dr. Bertagnolli. I know that the NCI, and the country, will benefit greatly from Dr. Rathmell’s deep experience and tested leadership.”
Dr. Rathmell currently serves as the Chair of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Physician-in-Chief for Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital and Clinics. Dr. Rathmell has held key leadership positions at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Kidney Cancer Research Foundation, and the American Society for Clinical Investigation.
We look forward to continued partnership with the NCI under Dr. Rathmell’s leadership, including our current collaborative research projects to advance biomarker harmonization and innovations in clinical trials.
We are fully confident in Dr. Rathmell’s abilities and look forward to working with her on these critical projects underway and continuing pursuing critical improvements on behalf of all patients.
About Friends of Cancer Research
Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is working to accelerate policy change, support groundbreaking science, and deliver new therapies to patients quickly and safely. We unite scientists, pharmaceutical companies, and policy makers with shared trust and guide them toward meaningful cooperation. This collaboration among partners from every healthcare sector ultimately drives advances in science, policy, and regulation that speed life-saving treatments to patients. For more information, please visit https://friendsofcancerresearch.org/.
