Who Leads SWOG Cancer Research Network

Our leaders are distinguished cancer researchers and clinicians from some of the nation's most respected universities and cancer centers.
 

Group Chairs

Drs. Dawn L. Hershman and Primo N. Lara, Jr., jointly hold SWOG's highest office, an elected post, and oversee the science, statistics, data management, and operations of the network.

Dawn L. Hershman, MD, MS

Dawn L. Hershman, MD, MS

American Cancer Society Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, Columbia University
Deputy Director, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
 

Primo N. Lara, Jr., MD

Primo N. Lara, Jr., MD

Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Distinguished Professor of Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine
 

Michael LeBlanc, PhD

Michael LeBlanc, PhD

Group Statistician
Member, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Research Professor, University of Washington

LeBlanc is SWOG's senior statistician and oversees the group's Statistics and Data Management Center, which provides expertise in the design, implementation, monitoring, analysis, and interpretation of SWOG trials and translational medicine studies.

Charles D. Blanke, MD

Charles D. Blanke, MD

Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
Professor of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute

Blanke serves as SWOG's CMO, providing clinical oversight and support in SWOG operational and administrative functions, helping oversee general daily operations of the group.

Kathy S. Albain, MD

Kathy S. Albain, MD

Vice Chair for Clinical Trials Partnerships
Huizenga Family Endowed Chair in Oncology Research and Professor of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Albain oversees SWOG's Clinical Trials Partnerships, or CTP, formerly the Clinical Trials Initiative. Studies run through the CTP are non-federal trials, with special attention to preferred industry partnerships and those that focus on comprehensive pipelines.

Don S. Dizon, MD

Don S. Dizon, MD

Vice Chair for Membership and Accrual
Jane F. Desforges Chair in Hematology and Oncology and Professor of Medicine, Tufts University

Dizon provides strategic direction in identifying and achieving goals to make SWOG group leadership and membership more effective and to enroll representative groups of participants to SWOG's clinical trials.

James M. Rae, PhD

James M. Rae, PhD

Vice Chair for Translational Medicine and Biobanking
Thomas H Simpson Legacy Professor of Cancer Research, University of Michigan Medical School

Rae oversees SWOG's basic and translational medicine research, including biomarker driven trials and research involving SWOG's extensive bank of biospecimens.

Our Executive Officers

These are SWOG's executive officers, who oversee the development of clinical trials in their specific area of responsibility and report on progress to the SWOG chair. They serve as key advisors to the chair, and act as liaisons to the National Cancer Institute.

Neeraj Agarwal, MD

Neeraj Agarwal, MD

Executive Officer for Genitourinary and Early Therapeutics & Rare Cancers Research
Presidential Endowed Chair of Cancer Research, University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute

Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, MD, MSc

Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, MD, MSc

Executive Officer for International Affairs
Associate Professor of Health Services Research and Breast Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Anne Chiang, MD, PhD

Anne Chiang, MD, PhD

Executive Officer for Breast and Lung Cancer Research
Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine
Chief Network Officer and Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Smilow Cancer Network

Katherine Crew, MD, MS

Katherine Crew, MD, MS

Executive Officer for Cancer Care Delivery and Prevention, Screening, & Surveillance Research
Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, Columbia University

Alex F. Herrera, MD

Alex F. Herrera, MD

Executive Officer for Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma Research
Associate Professor and Chief, Division of Lymphoma, City of Hope Medical Center

Lisa A. Kachnic, MD

Lisa A. Kachnic, MD

Executive Officer for Multi-Modality Research
Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, Columbia University

Hagen Kennecke, MD, MHA

Hagen Kennecke, MD, MHA

Executive Officer for Gastrointestinal and Melanoma Research
Professor of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute

Raymond U. Osarogiagbon, MBBS

Raymond U. Osarogiagbon, MBBS

Executive Officer for Community Site Engagement
Director, Thoracic Oncology, Baptist Cancer Center
Chief Scientist, Baptist Memorial Healthcare

 

Virginia Sun, PhD, MSN, RN

Virginia Sun, PhD, MSN, RN

Executive Officer for Palliative Care and Symptom Management & Survivorship Research
Professor of Nursing Research and Education, Departments of Population Sciences and Surgery, City of Hope