Cancer Center Membership

Membership is open to all faculty who seek to promote the mission of the Georgia Cancer Center and meet the membership requirements outlined below. Membership appointments will be made by the Director for two-year terms.

There are six membership categories: Full Member, Associate Member, Associate Clinical Member, Health Professional Member, Associate Member in Training, and Adjunct Member. To be considered for membership, candidates must apply by completing the online application form. Included should be a CV, NIH biosketch, other support, and a list of clinical trials for which the investigator is a PI or has accrued patients.

Appointments for all membership categories will be notified of any changes in criteria. The Georgia Cancer Center Executive Committee will review all memberships periodically and may reassign membership categories based on then-current membership criteria. All recommended changes will be forwarded to the Georgia Cancer Center Director for approval. Applications for membership should be made through the Georgia Cancer Center's website. The Georgia Cancer Center Executive Committee or individuals designated by the Director will review applications, assign categories, and make recommendations to the Director.

Georgia Cancer Center
M. Bert Storey Research Building
1410 Laney Walker Blvd.
Augusta, GA 30912

Director's Office: (706) 721-0570

Georgia Cancer Center
Outpatient Services
1411 Laney Walker Blvd.
Augusta, GA 30912

Patient Services: (706) 721-6744

Types of Membership

FULL MEMBER

Individuals in this category are expected to have a primary focus in cancer- related activities and meet the following criteria:

Hold an Augusta University faculty academic appointment or professional appointment considered appropriate by the Director;
Hold peer-reviewed, cancer-related extramural funding as a principal or co-investigator committing effort to the proposal;
Demonstrate thematic alignment and active participation with one of the Georgia Cancer Center research programs.

For faculty not meeting all of the above requirements, consideration for membership by the Executive Committee could be proposed if the candidate:

Is a major and essential contributor to the development and implementation of cancer- related, peer-reviewed laboratory or clinical research, either as co-investigator or as key personnel (e.g. providing expertise in Pathology or providing access to clinical specimens, etc.);
Is a new recruit who directs a cancer-related research program using faculty start-up funding;
Is the principal investigator on institutional clinical trials and/or actively enrolling or referring patients to clinical trials;
Is clinical staff devoting greater than 80 percent clinical effort to the field of oncology; or
Is the director of a shared resource or specialty area in the Georgia Cancer Center that facilitates the success of the research programs.

To maintain membership, Full Members are expected to:

Demonstrate consistent cancer-related publications in peer-reviewed professional journals during the previous three years;
Participate regularly in the interactive and collaborative activities of one of the Georgia Cancer Center Programs;
Use Georgia Cancer Center shared resources as their research dictates;
Place patients on clinical trials.

Associate Member

Associate Members are Augusta University faculty/professionals who demonstrate significant professional involvement in cancer research or collaborate with Cancer Center members but do not meet the criteria for Full Members.

Or

An investigator interested in translating their research from another field into cancer research or whose research has great scientific potential that would benefit from Georgia Cancer Center membership. Individuals in this category would be expected to be involved in collaboration with Georgia Cancer Center members.

Have professional involvement in cancer care, education, and/or community outreach.

Associate Members may retain this affiliation but must meet the criteria for full membership and be nominated accordingly for change to Full Member status. Faculty who have previously held full membership but who have not maintained the membership criteria for this appointment may be considered for Associate membership as determined by the Executive Committee.

Associate Clinical Member

Associate Clinical Members are non-Augusta University physicians who are practicing in the state of Georgia or region and who are serving as co- investigators or partners in Georgia Cancer Center clinical trials with a clear commitment to the mission of the Georgia Cancer Center.

Associate Clinical Members are non-Augusta University physicians who are significantly assisting the Georgia Cancer Center in its outreach to Georgians and the regional population.

Health Professional Associate Member

Health Professional Members are Augusta University health-professional staff who are not faculty (nurses, radiology technicians, nutritionists, etc.) but who devote greater than 80 percent effort to the field of Oncology.

Associate Member in Training

Associate Members in Training are Augusta University employees who are in residency, fellowship, or postdoctoral training and who devote greater than 80 percent effort to the field of oncology.

Adjunct Member

Adjunct Members are full-time faculty of other academic/research institutions who are non-Augusta University faculty or staff. Adjunct Members may be already actively involved in cancer research and seeking collaborations with Georgia Cancer Center Full Members or may be seeking active collaborations with Georgia Cancer Center Full Members to apply their current research interests to cancer research.

Responsibilities of Full Membership

Support the mission, goals and objectives of the Georgia Cancer Center.
Participate significantly in Georgia Cancer Center research programs, retreats, seminars, and special initiatives.
Promote interdisciplinary, multi-investigator research efforts (PO1, SPORE, U01, etc.) and actively facilitate the creation of new collaborative efforts within the Georgia Cancer Center.
Renew membership in writing every two years and provide updated CV and biosketches yearly or as requested.
Provide annual/semi-annual reports on scientific activity and copies of grant awards (NIH, NCI, DOD, pharmaceutical, or other sponsors) – information will be stored in the Georgia Cancer Center’s database for cancer-related activities.
Request funds in grant applications to support the proposed use of Georgia Cancer Center shared resource services.
Participate as a presenter or submit posters when appropriate.
Include the approved recognition of Georgia Cancer Center membership on all cancer-related academic papers, grants, journal articles, posters, and/or abstracts, and identify with the Georgia Cancer Center in promotional activities.
Provide abstracts and papers to the respective program leader upon request.
Participate in cancer-related educational activities (medical, graduate school, and community) and outreach (e.g., screenings, fund-raisers, prevention awareness) sponsored by the Georgia Cancer Center.

Benefits of Adjunct Membership

Subsidized rates for use of core facilities and shared resources identified for support by the Georgia Cancer Center.
Inclusion in relevant promotional materials such as CME programs, the Georgia Cancer Center Web site, and referral outreach activities that are developed by the Georgia Cancer Center.
In conjunction with Full Members, Adjunct Members are able to:
Apply for internal Georgia Cancer Center funding initiatives and are eligible for Georgia Cancer Center Director’s developmental funds.
Membership in Cancer Center interest groups, organ science teams, translational groups, etc.
Conduct translational research/clinical trials and lead clinical investigator opportunities.
Access Georgia Cancer Center clinical trials and IRB infrastructure.
Connect with drug sponsors and new agent trials.

Reducing the Burden

The Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University is dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer in Georgia and across the globe through superior care, innovation, and education. Through unprecedented expansion, the Georgia Cancer Center is providing access to more first-in-the-nation clinical trials, world-renowned experts and life-saving options.