Martin McMahon, PhD, will join Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah in August 2015 as Professor in the Department of Dermatology and HCI Senior Director of Preclinical Translation.
Dr. McMahon is currently the Efim Guzik Distinguished Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of California, San Francisco, and Assistant Director of Professional Education and Coleader of the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Developmental Therapeutics Program.
“Dr. McMahon is a distinguished scientist who is passionate about improving cancer outcomes,” said Mary Beckerle, PhD, CEO and Director of HCI. “He is a natural leader who will play a major role in advancing the development of HCI research discoveries to improve cancer treatments.”
John Zone, MD, Chair of Dermatology, said, “Dr. McMahon’s recruitment illustrates a great partnership between HCI and the Department of Dermatology. Utah has the highest incidence of melanoma in the United States, and Dr. McMahon’s expertise will advance our strategic goal of expanding our melanoma research excellence and impact.”
In his new role as HCI Senior Director of Preclinical Translation, Dr. McMahon will serve as a member of the HCI Executive Leadership Board, with key responsibilities in strategic planning and development of the cancer center.
“With the arrival of Dr. McMahon, HCI will be able to take new initiatives in the development of preclinical models, essential to the discovery of not only new treatments for cancer, but prevention strategies as well,” said Bradley Cairns, PhD, HCI Senior Director of Basic Science. “His laboratory will actively pursue the design and evaluation of treatments that will combat the mutant protein BRAF, known to be at the root of many cancers.”
Dr. McMahon is the current President of the Society for Melanoma Research.
“I am honored and very excited to join the faculty of the Department of Dermatology and the HCI at this most exciting time in the battle against cancer,” Dr. McMahon said. “What excites me most is the opportunity to work closely with the entire team at HCI to build the research infrastructure required to transform clinical outcomes for our patients.” ■
