UAB Department of Neurosurgery Professor Erwin G. Van Meir, Ph.D., was appointed Associate Director of Shared Resources for the NCI-designated O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB.
Barry Sleckman, M.D., Ph.D., director of the O’Neal Cancer Center, stated that Van Meir will undertake a comprehensive review of the current Cancer Center shared resources in his new role. Sleckman sees Van Meir utilizing the comprehensive review process to evaluate the opportunities for coupling new technologies to current shared resources. Additionally, Van Meir’s role will focus on developing new shared resources, ensuring UAB is on the technologic cutting edge in the realm of oncology research.
In his new leadership role, Van Meir will determine and define the needs for sophisticated scientific equipment and specialized expertise of all four research programs at the O’Neal Cancer Center. Van Meir is looking forward to interacting with these high-achieving, impactful research programs and the Shared Resource core facilities that support them in order to optimize their interactions and accelerate research towards finding new cancer cures.
“The needs for shared support resources of UAB cancer research laboratories evolve over time, and we need to make sure that the O’Neal Cancer Center not only adapts its offerings to the greatest areas of existing demand but also anticipates future needs for emerging technologies and expertise that will propel our researchers into the future of scientific exploration,” said Van Meir.
The Department of Neurosurgery and the Cancer Center have had a strong, long-standing partnership. For example, many department faculty are active Cancer Center members of the Neuro-Oncology research program, which serves as a scientific platform for the coordination of research in brain tumors. Sleckman is delighted to see the partnership continue to grow with Van Meir supporting the Cancer Center in his new role.
“In addition to important contributions to our Shared Resource Programs, Dr. Van Meir’s broad experience in leadership of an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center will be a great asset to the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, and we look forward to him joining our leadership team,” said Sleckman.
The members of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB work constantly to provide the highest quality of life for people diagnosed with cancer, while advancing the world’s understanding of cancer, and translating this knowledge into prevention, detection, treatment and survivorship. It is one of only 51 cancer centers in the nation to meet the stringent criteria for the National Cancer Institute’s comprehensive designation, being the only one in the state of Alabama and in fact, in a four-state region in the Deep South. The center is a leader in conducting groundbreaking research, reducing cancer disparities and providing world-class patient care.
