Russell Szmulewitz, MD, has been appointed as the Associate Director for Clinical Investigation for the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, effective July 12, 2023. He has been in the role in an interim capacity since November 2022.

Dr. Szmulewitz is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Director of the Genitourinary Oncology Program. He is also a co-leader of the UCCCC Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics Program. His research bridges the clinic and laboratory and focuses on the development of novel therapeutic strategies for advanced prostate cancer.

In his role as the new AD for Clinical Investigation, he will oversee the clinical trials activities as specified in the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), including Clinical Protocol and Data Management (CPDM), Data Safety Monitoring (DSM), and the Protocol Review and Monitoring System (PRMS).

He will build upon the significant progress made to date to centralize clinical trials operations. In addition, he will work to expand UCCCC clinical trials to the growing network sites, including a network strategy for wholly owned sites, other collaborative sites, and the new relationship with Advent Health.

He will work closely with stakeholders to support work in developmental/experimental therapeutics, innovative Phase I trials, and external industry partnerships. He will also be charged with increasing internal investigator-initiated clinical trials and developing clinical research activities for multi-investigator grants such as SPORES.

The AD for Clinical Investigations is a member of the Cancer Center’s senior leadership team and will be a critical member of the Executive Committee.