Expanding Scientific Leadership with New Advisory Appointments
The National Cancer Center has announced a significant expansion of its Scientific Advisory Board with the appointment of two highly regarded physician-scientists, Allison Betof-Warner, M.D., Ph.D. and Rizwan Romee, M.D.. These appointments reflect NCC’s continued commitment to strengthening its leadership in translational oncology, accelerating early-stage discovery, and advancing innovative cancer research programs that can ultimately improve patient outcomes worldwide.
Both appointees bring extensive clinical and scientific expertise in oncology and immunotherapy, along with deep experience at leading academic and research institutions in the United States. Their addition to the Scientific Advisory Board is expected to enhance the organization’s ability to evaluate competitive fellowship applications, identify high-potential scientific ideas, and support the next generation of cancer researchers.
Strengthening Scientific Leadership in Cancer Research
The Scientific Advisory Board of the National Cancer Center plays a central role in guiding the organization’s fellowship funding strategy. The board is responsible for reviewing research proposals, assessing scientific merit, and making funding recommendations for early-career investigators working across a broad spectrum of cancer biology, diagnostics, and therapeutic development.
With the appointment of Dr. Betof-Warner and Dr. Romee, NCC is reinforcing its focus on precision oncology and immunotherapy—two of the most rapidly evolving areas in modern cancer treatment. Their combined experience spans melanoma research, cellular therapy, natural killer (NK) cell biology, and translational immuno-oncology, offering complementary perspectives that align closely with NCC’s mission to support groundbreaking but often underfunded research.
Allison Betof-Warner: Leadership in Melanoma and Translational Oncology
Allison Betof-Warner, M.D., Ph.D. is a medical oncologist and physician-scientist who currently serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She is also the Medical Director for Melanoma Oncology and holds the position of Mark & Mary Stevens Endowed Faculty Scholar.
Prior to her role at Stanford, Dr. Betof-Warner held a faculty position at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, one of the world’s leading cancer research and treatment institutions. Her career has been defined by a strong commitment to translating laboratory discoveries into clinical applications, particularly in the field of melanoma, a highly aggressive form of skin cancer.
Her research focuses on understanding tumor resistance mechanisms and improving the effectiveness of immunotherapy-based treatments. She has been actively involved in clinical trials evaluating novel therapeutic approaches, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and combination therapies designed to improve response rates in advanced melanoma patients.
Within the Scientific Advisory Board of NCC, Dr. Betof-Warner is expected to bring a strong clinical trial perspective, ensuring that funded research projects have a clear pathway toward real-world application. Her experience in bridging academic research and patient care will be instrumental in identifying proposals with high translational potential.
Rizwan Romee: Advancing NK Cell Therapy and Cancer Immunology
Rizwan Romee, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a practicing oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. He is widely recognized for his pioneering work in natural killer (NK) cell biology and gene manipulation for cancer therapy.
Dr. Romee leads the Romee Laboratory for NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy, where his research focuses on engineering immune cells to better recognize and destroy cancer cells. His work is part of the broader effort in the field of cellular immunotherapy, which includes CAR-T and NK cell-based treatments designed to harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer more effectively.
He is also a member investigator at the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, a collaborative research network that brings together leading cancer centers to accelerate immunotherapy discovery and development.
Dr. Romee’s contributions have been particularly influential in advancing NK cell-based therapeutic strategies, which are being explored as potentially safer and more broadly applicable alternatives to some existing immune cell therapies. His inclusion on NCC’s advisory board is expected to strengthen the organization’s ability to evaluate cutting-edge immunotherapy proposals and support innovative cellular therapy research.
Role and Responsibilities on the Scientific Advisory Board
As members of the Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Betof-Warner and Dr. Romee will participate in the evaluation of fellowship applications submitted to NCC’s funding programs. These fellowships are designed to support early-career scientists and clinicians conducting high-impact cancer research across a wide range of disciplines.
Their responsibilities will include:
- Reviewing research proposals for scientific rigor and innovation
- Assessing the potential impact of proposed studies on cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Identifying promising early-stage research with translational or clinical relevance
- Participating in funding recommendations for fellowship awards
- Supporting NCC’s strategic vision for advancing cancer research globally
The board plays a critical role in ensuring that limited research funding is directed toward projects with the highest potential to transform the understanding and treatment of cancer. By incorporating diverse expertise from leading academic institutions, NCC aims to maintain a rigorous and forward-looking evaluation process.
Leadership Perspective from the Advisory Board Chair
Commenting on the appointments, Victoria Seewaldt, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of the NCC Scientific Advisory Board and a representative of the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, emphasized the importance of bringing together leading experts in oncology research.
She highlighted that both Dr. Betof-Warner and Dr. Romee bring a combination of scientific depth and clinical insight that will strengthen the board’s ability to evaluate emerging research directions. According to Seewaldt, their expertise in medical oncology and immunotherapy research will help drive innovation and support NCC’s mission of advancing meaningful cancer discoveries.
Perspectives from the Newly Appointed Members
Both newly appointed board members expressed enthusiasm about joining NCC and contributing to its mission of supporting early-stage cancer research.
Dr. Betof-Warner emphasized the importance of funding innovative research at early stages, particularly studies led by young investigators who may lack access to traditional funding channels. She noted that organizations like NCC play a critical role in identifying high-potential scientific ideas that might otherwise remain underfunded or overlooked.
She also expressed her commitment to supporting research that could lead to transformative breakthroughs in cancer treatment, particularly in areas such as immunotherapy and precision medicine.
Dr. Romee highlighted NCC’s strong track record in supporting bold, forward-thinking research initiatives. He underscored the importance of identifying innovative scientific approaches that challenge conventional thinking and expand the boundaries of cancer research.
He further noted that his background in cancer immunotherapy and NK cell engineering would help guide the selection of research projects with the greatest potential to advance clinical applications in oncology.
Supporting the Next Generation of Cancer Researchers
In addition to the new advisory board appointments, NCC also announced the allocation of $426,000 in fellowship funding for the current award cycle. This funding was distributed to seven recipients, including four first-time awardees and three renewal recipients.
The selected fellows represent a diverse and international group of researchers, drawn from leading cancer research institutions across the United States and abroad. The cohort includes both male and female scientists from countries including China, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, reflecting the global nature of modern cancer research.
These fellowships are designed to support early-stage research projects focused on improving cancer diagnosis, treatment strategies, and patient outcomes. By funding emerging scientists at critical stages in their careers, NCC aims to accelerate innovation and foster long-term progress in oncology.
Advancing a Global Vision for Cancer Innovation
The appointment of Dr. Betof-Warner and Dr. Romee reinforces NCC’s broader strategy of cultivating a global network of scientific expertise. By engaging leaders from top academic institutions such as Stanford University, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NCC is positioning itself as a key contributor to the international cancer research ecosystem.
Their combined expertise in melanoma research, immunotherapy, and cellular therapy is expected to significantly enhance the advisory board’s ability to evaluate complex, multidisciplinary research proposals. This, in turn, supports NCC’s mission of funding high-impact science that can ultimately translate into better treatments and improved survival rates for cancer patients worldwide.
The addition of Allison Betof-Warner, M.D., Ph.D. and Rizwan Romee, M.D. to the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Cancer Center marks an important milestone in the organization’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its leadership in cancer research funding.
With their combined expertise in clinical oncology, immunotherapy, and translational research, both physicians are expected to play a key role in shaping NCC’s fellowship program and supporting the next generation of scientific discoveries in oncology.
As NCC continues to expand its support for early-career researchers and innovative cancer science, these appointments underscore the organization’s commitment to fostering global collaboration and accelerating progress toward more effective cancer treatments.
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