Research Leaders

  • Cancer Center Director

    Jonathan Chernoff, MD, PhD

    Senior Vice President
    Stanley P. Reimann Chair in Oncology Research

    Jonathan Chernoff works with Temple University Health System and Temple University leadership to guide Fox Chase into the future of cancer care. A molecular oncologist and medical oncologist, he helps Fox Chase focus on areas that best leverage the institution’s strengths in scientific development.

  • Elizabeth Plimack MD, MS Professor, Department of Hematology/Oncology
    Deputy Director

    Elizabeth Plimack, MD, MS

    Professor, Department of Hematology/Oncology
    Director, Genitourinary Clinical Research
  • Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS. “The question this trial asked, for the first time is, ‘Can you give this medicine to people who have these tumors but that don’t have tuberous sclerosis, which is a far more common condition?’”
    President & CEO

    Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS

    Executive Vice President for Cancer Services – Temple University Health System
    Senior Associate Dean, Clinical Cancer Research – Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
    G. Willing "Wing" Pepper Chair in Cancer Research

Associate Directors

  • Translational Research

    Martin J. Edelman, MD

    Chair and Professor, Department of Hematology/Oncology
    Deputy Cancer Center Director for Clinical Research
    G. Morris Dorrance Jr. Chair in Medical Oncology

    Martin Edelman’s research focuses on interdisciplinary and multimodality treatment of lung cancer with the goal of translating laboratory observations into practical clinical trials. His role at Fox Chase is to facilitate interactions between laboratory and clinical investigators.

  • Population Science

    Carolyn Y. Fang, PhD

    Professor, Cancer Prevention and Control

    Carolyn Y. Fang studies how psychosocial and behavioral factors influence cancer risk and outcomes, particularly in underserved populations. Her work has made significant contributions to informing evidence-based approaches for addressing cancer health disparities.

  • System Integration

    Erica Golemis, PhD

    Deputy Chief Science Officer
    Professor, Molecular Therapeutics
    William Wikoff Smith Chair in Cancer Research

    As Associate Director for System Integration, Erica Golemis works with Fox Chase and Temple scientists to develop relationships that will lead Fox Chase into the future. As chair of the Department of Cancer and Cell Biology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, she focuses on identifying and supporting research synergies that advance cancer research and cancer care.

  • Administration & Planning

    John Gricoski

    Vice President, Research Administration

    John Gricoski is responsible for administration of the center, including oversight of research operating and capital budgets, and laboratory space planning. He also manages the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant. Gricoski has an MBA in finance and is a licensed Pennsylvania CPA.

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

    Camille Ragin, PhD, MPH

    Professor, Cancer Prevention and Control

    Camille Ragin’s research focuses on gene-environment interactions and cancer health disparities. Her work applies molecular biomarkers, genomics, and public health tools to cancer research in African American communities and African-descended populations worldwide.

  • Education & Training

    Glenn F. Rall, PhD

    Chief Academic Officer
    Professor, Blood Cell Development and Function

    A member of the Blood Cell Development and Function research program, Rall focuses on the intersection of virology, immunology, and neurobiology. As associate director of education and training, Rall oversees all faculty affairs, as well as mentoring and education programs.

  • Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine

    Tomasz Skorski, MD, PhD, DSc

    Associate Director, Fox Chase Cancer Center
    Director, Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine
    Professor, Department of Cancer and Cellular Biology

    As director of the Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine at Temple, Tomasz Skorski oversees the planning, organization, and direction of the institute’s operations and programs. His lab focuses on determining of the role of DNA repair mechanisms in acute and chronic leukemias.

  • Clinical Research

    Margaret von Mehren, MD

    Chief, Division of Sarcoma Medical Oncology
    Vice Chair and Professor, Department of Hematology/Oncology
    Physician Director, Clinical Trials Office

    Margaret von Mehren’s research focuses on developmental therapeutics for sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Her work in this area informs her role as the associate director for clinical research, in which she oversees much of the clinical trials process at Fox Chase.

  • Basic Science

    David Wiest, PhD

    Scientific Director of the Research Institute
    Co-Leader and Professor, Blood Cell Development and Function
    Director, Cell Sorting Facility and Laboratory Animal Facility

    In his role as scientific director, David Wiest oversees the overall direction of science research at the center. His lab explores the molecular basis for normal and malignant hematopoiesis, with a particular emphasis on T lymphocyte development. He also co-leads the Blood Cell Development and Function research program.

Research Program Leaders

  • Blood Cell Development and Function Program

    Siddharth Balachandran, PhD

    Co-Leader and Professor, Blood Cell Development and Function Program

    Siddharth Balachandran explores how cells die during host innate-immune responses to viruses and bacteria, and how to exploit these mechanisms for the treatment of human disease, whether inflammatory, infectious, or malignant. He is co-leader of the Blood Cell Development and Function research program.

  • Blood Cell Development and Function Program

    David Wiest, PhD

    Scientific Director of the Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center
    Co-Leader and Professor, Blood Cell Development and Function
    Director, Cell Sorting Facility and Laboratory Animal Facility

    In his role as scientific director, David Wiest oversees the overall direction of science research at the center. His lab explores the molecular basis for normal and malignant hematopoiesis, with a particular emphasis on T lymphocyte development. He also co-leads the Blood Cell Development and Function research program.

  • Cancer Prevention and Control Program

    Margie L. Clapper, PhD

    Deputy Scientific Director
    Professor, Cancer Prevention and Control Program
    Samuel M.V. Hamilton Chair in Cancer Prevention
    Adjunct Faculty, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University

    As a scientific director, Margie Clapper facilitates translational research by fostering multidisciplinary collaborations among faculty within the Cancer Prevention and Control research program, which she co-leads, and throughout the center. Her research focuses on the identification of biomarkers of cancer risk and development of new cancer preventive therapies.

  • Cancer Prevention and Control Program

    Michael J. Hall, MD, MS

    Chair and Professor, Department of Clinical Genetics
    Director, Gastrointestinal Risk Assessment
    Co-Leader, Cancer Prevention and Control Program

    Michael Hall’s research focus is in hereditary cancer syndromes, including GI syndromes (Lynch syndrome, pancreatic cancer risk) and hereditary breast/ovarian syndrome, as well as precision medicine and secondary hereditary risks, and cancer prevention. As part of the Risk Assessment program, he maintains diverse multidisciplinary collaborations.

  • Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program

    Edna (Eti) Cukierman, PhD

    Co-Leader and Professor, Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program
    Co-Director, Marvin & Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute
    Co-Director, Immune Monitoring Facility

    Eti Cukierman’s lab studies the biology of desmoplasia, which plays a central role in epithelial tumor formation. In her leadership role, she works to facilitate clinical collaborations with the goal of testing laboratory-generated hypotheses and translating basic discoveries to the clinic.

  • Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program

    Johnathan R. Whetstine, PhD

    Co-Leader and Professor, Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program
    Director, Cancer Epigenetics Institute
    Jack Schultz Chair in Basic Science

    The Whetstine laboratory studies how chromatin factors control gene expression and genome stability, and in turn, the impact on cancer drug response and resistance. As director of the Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Whetstine works to promote fundamental discovery in cancer epigenetics while identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

  • Molecular Therapeutics Program

    Hossein Borghaei, DO, MS

    Chief, Division of Thoracic Medical Oncology
    Professor, Department of Hematology/Oncology
    Co-Director, Immune Monitoring Facility
    Co-Leader, Molecular Therapeutics Program
    Gloria and Edmund M. Dunn Chair in Thoracic Oncology

    Hossein Borghaei’s lab concentrates on the development of new cancer treatments, with an emphasis on the use of immunotherapy and monoclonal antibodies. Borghaei frequently collaborates with scientists outside of Fox Chase in an effort to bring newer immune-based treatments to the clinic.

  • Molecular Therapeutics Program

    John Karanicolas, PhD

    Co-Leader and Professor, Molecular Therapeutics Program

    The goal of the Karanicolas lab is to develop structure-based approaches for controlling protein function using small molecules. Karanicolas and his team use these methods to reactivate disabled tumor suppressors, inhibit cancer-driving RNA-binding proteins, disable key oncogenic kinases, and tune the activity of antibodies used in cancer immunotherapy.