Dana-Farber's DePinho named sole finalist for MD Anderson Cancer Center presidency

The University of Texas System Board of Regents on May 11 named Ronald DePinho, MD, director of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Belfer Institute for Applied Cancer Science, as the sole finalist for the presidency of the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the largest cancer center in the United States.

Under Texas state law, university governing boards must name finalists for a presidency at least 21 days before making a formal appointment. The board is tentatively scheduled to finalize the selection at a meeting in June.

DePinho's wife, Lynda Chin, MD, scientific director of the Belfer Institute for Applied Cancer Science, will also join the faculty of UT MD Anderson.

"Ron DePinho is one of the most distinguished cancer scientists in the world," says Dana-Farber President Edward J. Benz Jr., MD. "He is a visionary and an innovator, who will bring creative and critical energy to this vital role in the field of cancer. He is scientifically inquisitive, and he seeks novel approaches to problems and challenges. He also is extremely adept at bringing together academia and industry with the goal to expedite the pace of scientific discovery and drug development.

"MD Anderson also will benefit greatly with the recruitment of Lynda Chin, Ron's wife," Benz continues. "She is an outstanding thought leader in the field of cancer genomics and cancer biology. She has ably filled a significant leadership role in the national Cancer Genome Anatomy Project. Dana-Farber will miss both of their scientific excellence, vision, and contributions to our research efforts."

DePinho's pending appointment adds to the number of Dana-Farber trainees and faculty members who hold senior leadership positions at the country’s leading academic and cancer institutions.

The University of Texas System's press announcement