John A. Zaia, M.D., Aaron D. and Edith Miller Chair in Gene Therapy and chair of the Department of Virology, has been named City of Hope’s institutional official, as well as deputy director of the cancer center for clinical research.
 John A. Zaia is City of Hope’s new institutional official. (Photo by Alicia Di Rado) |
The institutional official is responsible for verifying that research activities proceed according to agreements made between the research institution and federal agencies. At City of Hope, the official oversees research policies and procedures relating to regulatory committees including the Institutional Review Board, or IRB, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Radiation Safety Committee and Occupational Safety and Biohazard Committee. Zaia is responsible for ensuring all City of Hope researchers comply with federal requirements and regulations.
Said Zaia: “I’m looking forward to working with our investigators in problem-solving that will enhance City of Hope’s research efforts.”
His position as institutional official reports directly to Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer and cancer center director.
“Dr. Zaia is the ideal candidate to fill this position,” said Friedman, citing Zaia’s distinguished career as a clinical and laboratory researcher. “We are fortunate to have his considerable expertise contributing to the cancer center’s leadership.”
Friedman noted that Zaia’s experience as past chair of City of Hope’s IRB and his oversight of the Clinical Research Governance Board, which approves policies and procedures relating to clinical trials, are particularly relevant to both the institutional official post and to the deputy directorship for clinical research. According to Friedman, Zaia will work closely with other cancer center leaders to ensure patient safety and the highest standards and ethics in all studies.
Zaia will join the Cancer Center Executive Committee to help guide the institution’s research activities. The committee comprises Friedman and all deputy and associate cancer center directors, as well as Kristine Justus, Ph.D., vice president of basic research operations, Doug Stahl, Ph.D., vice president of clinical research operations, and Stephen J. Forman, M.D., Francis and Kathleen McNamara Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) and chair of the Department of Hematology & HCT.
Comprehensive cancer center leaders Director - Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer
Deputy directors - Laboratory research – Richard Jove, Ph.D., director of Beckman Research Institute
- Medical director – Alexandra Levine, M.D., chief medical officer
- Clinical research – John A. Zaia, M.D., Aaron D. and Edith Miller Chair in Gene Therapy and chair of the Department of Virology
Associate directors Population sciences – Smita Bhatia, M.D., M.P.H., chair of the Department of Populations SciencesInformation sciences – Joyce C. Niland, Ph.D., Edward and Estelle Alexander Chair in Information Sciences and chair of the Department of Information Sciences - Administration – Robert Powell, senior vice president of research operations
- Basic research – John Rossi, Ph.D., Lidow Family Research Chair and chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Translational research – Yun Yen, M.D., Ph.D., Dr. & Mrs. Allen Y. Chao Chair in Developmental Cancer Therapeutics and director of clinical and molecular pharmacology
- Additional Cancer Center Executive Committee members
- Stephen J. Forman, M.D., Francis and Kathleen McNamara Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and chair of the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
- Kristine Justus, Ph.D., vice president of basic research operations
- Doug Stahl, Ph.D., vice president of clinical research operations
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