{"id":138986,"date":"2021-04-12T08:30:19","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T18:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=138986"},"modified":"2021-04-12T15:08:25","modified_gmt":"2021-04-13T01:08:25","slug":"randall-holcombe-to-leave-uh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/04\/12\/randall-holcombe-to-leave-uh\/","title":{"rendered":"糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Cancer Center director leaving for Vermont"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Cancer Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Randall Holcombe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> Cancer Center Director Randall Holcombe<\/strong> is stepping down effective August 1, 2021, to become the cancer center director at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Holcombe joined 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> in 2016<\/a> and has nearly 30 years of experience in academia, medicine and cancer research, serving in a number of leadership roles around the country. Holcombe is credited with bringing in more than $47 million in extramural research, education and infrastructure funding during his tenure at 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>. <\/p>\n

“This is a significant loss for the cancer center, the university and the entire state,” said 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Provost Michael Bruno<\/strong>. “Randy has done a tremendous job since coming to Hawaiʻi<\/span> five years ago and quickly became a leader in the local medical research and patient care community. When he arrived, he inherited a center in crisis and today it is thriving and poised for great success in the years to come.” <\/p>\n

Holcombe oversaw the renewal of the center\u02bbs National Cancer Institute<\/a> (NCI<\/abbr>) designation—one of only 71 NCI<\/abbr>-designated cancer centers across the country. He also initiated the development of an Early Phase Clinical Research Center<\/a> that will allow cancer patients to participate in Phase I-designated cancer trials without having to travel to the continental U.S.<\/abbr> The new center will also include the Organoid Generation Facility, a joint venture with Cold Spring Harbor Cancer Center, that will provide a vital resource for the biological study of cancers in minority populations with significant cancer disparities.<\/p>\n

Under Holcombe\u2019s leadership, the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Cancer Center made tremendous strides in growing key research initiatives through its collaborations with the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Cancer Consortium<\/a> and partners across the U.S.<\/abbr>, Guam, the U.S.<\/abbr> Affiliated Pacific Islands, Australia, Asia and Europe. <\/p>\n

The center also continues to be an economic boost<\/a> for the State of Hawaiʻi<\/span>. In fiscal year 2020, the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Cancer Center and John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> accounted for about 95% of the $63 million awarded to Hawaiʻi<\/span> from the National Institute for Health that directly supported 1,298 jobs and generated $191 million in economic activity. <\/p>\n

“This was a difficult decision because I have really enjoyed my time here facilitating Hawaiʻi<\/span>-relevant research at the center and working with our partners to provide access to the best options for care through the clinical trials network,” said Holcombe. “The 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Cancer Center is on strong footing, and I am incredibly optimistic about its path forward. I am confident the exceptional progress that has been achieved over these past several years will continue.”<\/p>\n

糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Provost Michael Bruno will recommend 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Cancer Center Deputy Director Joe W. Ramos<\/strong> to direct the center after Holcombe\u2019s departure, consistent with the succession plan provided to NCI<\/abbr>. Ramos has been with the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Cancer Center for 17 years, the last five as deputy director.<\/p>\n