It is our distinct pleasure to announce that Howard Colman, MD, PhD, Professor in the Departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Medicine (Oncology) has been appointed as the inaugural Director of the Computational Oncology Research Initiative (CORI), a new collaboration between Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute. This initiative breaks new ground in the use of advanced scientific and data computing, imaging, and visualization to solve important problems in cancer. It builds on enormous expertise at the University of Utah both at HCI and SCI and will without doubt bring innovative solutions to the cancer challenge. The Initiative will include the appointment of an Associate Director from SCI as well as the recruitment of additional joint faculty over the next years.
This initiative was spear-headed by Chris Johnson. Sarang and Orly will be among our first active faculty members bridging between SCI and HCI.
A brief biography of Dr. Colman is provided below. We have no doubt that with his broad perspective, expertise in cancer treatment, and innovative thinking he will have a major impact. Please join us in welcoming him to this important new role!
Best regards,
Neli Ulrich, MS, PhD
Executive Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at HCI
Mike Kirby, PhD
Interim Director of the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute
Professor of Computer Science
Howard Colman, MD, PhD is a Professor in the Departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Medicine (Oncology) and Huntsman Translational Scholar at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI). Dr. Colman received his MD and PhD degrees, and completed Neurology residency at Washington University in St. Louis. He subsequently did his Neuro-Oncology fellowship and was on the faculty at MD Anderson Cancer Center until he moved to HCI and the University of Utah in 2010, where he serves as Leader of the Center for Neurologic Cancers. He is also Medical Director of Neuro-Oncology at Intermountain Medical Center, and Acting Chair of Hematology and Oncology at the Salt Lake City VA Hospital. His clinical research is focused on the development and evaluation of new therapies for brain tumors. His laboratory interests include defining clinically relevant molecular subtypes of brain tumors, and the role of tumor stem cells in the initiation and treatment resistance of brain tumors. Dr. Colman has held multiple grant, clinical trial, and disease leadership positions at the local and national levels. He has a strong interest in the application of novel technologies and informatics in clinical oncology.