Driving Discovery Forward: Endowed Chair Appointments

Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) is proud to celebrate five colleagues who earned endowed chair appointments, including two new appointments for faculty members who previously held endowed chair roles. Additionally, two faculty members’ endowed chairs have been renewed. These designations honor the exceptional achievements of our faculty. Endowed chairs commend cancer researchers who are advancing vital work in support of Huntsman Cancer Institute’s mission. They recognize academic distinction, promote excellence, and provide funds to advance cancer research.

Bradley Cairns, PhD, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute and an endowed chair honoree, congratulates the newly appointed and renewed chairs: “We are proud to recognize Douglas Sborov, Jairam Krishnamurthy, and Luis Batista on receiving their first endowed chair recognition, and to celebrate Cornelia Ulrich on her new endowed chair appointment. Through their commitment to innovation and scientific excellence, these endowed chairs recognize their outstanding efforts and contributions to Huntsman Cancer Institute.”

2026 Newly Appointed Endowed Chairs and New Appointments

Cairns, a pioneering molecular biologist who was named CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute in September 2025, has been appointed the Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Endowed Chair in Cancer Leadership. This endowed chair is reserved for the Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO. Cairns previously held the Jon and Karen Huntsman Presidential Professor in Cancer Research appointment.

“This appointment is both a profound honor and a meaningful reminder of the responsibility we share to advance Huntsman Cancer Institute’s mission,” says Cairns. “I am grateful for the opportunity to help lead this extraordinary institution into its next chapter—supporting our faculty, strengthening collaboration, and accelerating discoveries that improve the lives of patients and families across the Mountain West and beyond.”

Douglas Sborov, MD, MS, is a physician-scientist who studies multiple myeloma at Huntsman Cancer Institute and serves as a professor of medicine at the U, has been appointed the Craig and Marianne Meacham Endowed Chair in Hematological Oncology at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

“Having been honored with this appointment allows me the opportunity to continue advancing research in the field of multiple myeloma as we drive towards identifying a cure for the disease,” says Sborov. “The endowment will provide critical support for years to come and is an incredible investment in the growth of our research and collaborative efforts at Huntsman Cancer Institute that lead to advances that benefit our patients.”

Cornelia Ulrich, PhD, MS, executive director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and chief scientific officer at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor of population health sciences at the U, has been appointed the inaugural Mary C. Beckerle Presidential Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and Leadership. Ulrich previously held the Jon M. and Karen Huntsman Presidential Professorship in Cancer Research. The new Mary C. Beckerle Presidential Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and Leadership was established by the Jon M. and Karen Huntsman family in honor of Beckerle’s longstanding leadership at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

“I am incredibly honored to receive an endowed chair named after Dr. Mary Beckerle, former CEO and cancer center director at Huntsman Cancer Institute, and my long-standing mentor and role model,” Ulrich says. “She is an internationally recognized leader in cancer research and an inspiring role model for women in science, and I am delighted to follow in her footsteps as we work toward a world without cancer I am deeply grateful to the Huntsman family for creating this new chair.”

Jairam Krishnamurthy, MD, FACP, medical oncologist and researcher at Huntsman Cancer Institute and associate professor of internal medicine at the U, has been appointed the Huntsman Cancer Institute Endowed Chair in Women’s Cancer Research.

“This recognition is deeply meaningful because it reflects the trust and support of my patients, mentors, colleagues, trainees, and research collaborators who have made this work possible,” Krishnamurthy says. “The endowed chair will support my continued efforts to accelerate discoveries in breast cancer, improve translational science, and develop innovative treatment strategies aimed at improving the lives of patients and families affected by cancer.”

Luis Batista, PhD, hematologic oncologist and researcher at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor of internal medicine at the U, has been appointed the Huntsman Cancer Institute Presidential Chair in Hematologic Malignancies Research.

"Being honored with this appointment is a tremendous privilege," says Batista. "This support will enable our laboratory to continue bridging fundamental discovery with clinical translation, with the ultimate goal of developing better treatments and improving the lives of patients affected by hematologic diseases and cancer."

Renewed Endowed Chairs

Sean Tavtigian, PhD, co-leader of Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program and professor of oncological sciences at the U, has been renewed as the Jon and Karen Huntsman Presidential Professor in Cancer Research.

“It is a privilege to have this appointment renewed and to continue work focused at the intersection of genetics, population science, and cancer prevention,” says Tavtigian. “Our goal is to sharpen the tools we use to interpret inherited cancer risk, so that individuals and families can receive clearer, more actionable information about their risk and the steps they can take in response.”

David Wetter, PhD, MS, senior director of cancer health implementation and director of the Center for HOPE at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor of population health sciences at the U, has been renewed as the Jon and Karen Huntsman Presidential Professor in Cancer Research.

“I view the renewal of this appointment as validation of the fantastic work that is carried out by our team and community partners,” Wetter says. “They are all unbelievably passionate professionals who are committed to improving the lives of all people.”

Endowed chairs are made possible through generous philanthropic support and empower our world-class researchers to pursue bold, high-impact questions in cancer science—work that might otherwise remain out of reach. This vital investment is magnified by a strong foundation of federal funding, accelerating lifesaving discoveries and advancing progress in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Huntsman Cancer Institute is supported by Huntsman Cancer Foundation and the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute including P30 CA042014.

“Our donors know that through creating an endowed chair, they are supporting sustained excellence,” says Michael D. Delzotti, FAHP, CFRE, president and COO of Huntsman Cancer Foundation. “We are honored to celebrate each of these recent appointments and the profound impact that will result in the work these endowments support.”

The critical research happening every day at Huntsman Cancer Institute is supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, including cancer center support grant P30 CA042014, as well as Huntsman Cancer Foundation.