Saturday | April 11, 2026

1:00PM - 5:00PM  Pre-Conference Affinity Group Workshops (separate registration required)

CCSG 101 Pre-Conference Workshop

A comprehensive overview of the NCI’s Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), focused on preparing and submitting a competitive renewal application.

 Who Should Attend:

•  Newer Associate Directors of Administration (ADAs) who have not previously led a CCSG application/competitive renewal.

• Newer senior CCSG administrative staff who will be supporting ADAs in an upcoming CCSG application/competitive renewal, but have never been a part of the process before.

• Personnel who attended a previous CCSG 101 were unable to digest all of the information discussed the first time around.

 Workshop Goals:

1. Gain a strong foundational understanding of the CCSG, including its purpose, reviewer expectations, and structure.

2. Learn what is required for a successful application, with clear steps to achieve both.

3. Receive practical guidance and a packet of materials to support the development of your first CCSG application.

4. Understand how to effectively convey key messages in the written application to meet both the stated guidelines and unwritten expectations of reviewers.

5. Build confidence in navigating the CCSG process for the first time.

CRTEC Associate Director and Administrator Workshop: Defining the Future of CRTEC Workshop

1:00PM - 1:15PM        Welcome and Guided Networking

1:15PM - 2:00PM        CRTEC and the New CCSG Renewal Process

In this session, we’ll examine how cancer centers are adapting to the new CCSG review process without on-site visits. We’ll highlight recent examples and discuss how reviewers and center leaders are navigating this new review environment.

Co-Chairs:
Nishtha Agarwal
Andrea Brocato
Jennifer Seuferer

2:00PM - 2:10PM        Guided Networking

2:10PM - 2:55PM        Beyond NIH Funding

In this session, we’ll explore how cancer centers are securing resources beyond traditional NIH grants. We’ll highlight successful donor engagement strategies, partnerships with organizations like ACS and AACR, and creative approaches such as alumni involvement and cross-institutional programming.

Co-Chairs:
Audrey Elegbede
Megan Mekinda

2:55PM - 3:05PM        Break

3:05PM - 3:15PM        Guided Networking

3:15PM - 4:00PM        What Metrics Now? (Co-Led with the Workforce Development Affinity Group)

In this session, and in light of the new CCSG review process, we’ll discuss what metrics CRTEC should focus on. What tools do we need to build in order to capture outcomes and impact of various programs across the training continuum? What are appropriate control groups for measurement and what statistical methods can evaluate this data? And how do new Workforce Development initiatives fit in with CRTEC; how should they be measured? We’ll also discuss CRTEC’s role in publishing education-related manuscripts.

Co-Chairs:
Harikrishna Nakshatri
Patricia Ramos
Rachel Sorensen

4:00PM - 4:10PM        Guided Networking

4:10PM - 4:55PM        The Future of CRTEC and Workforce Development Programs (Co-Led with the Workforce Development Affinity Group)

In this session, we’ll explore how cancer centers are evolving and meeting the moment with innovative workforce development initiatives and strategies. Participants will share experiences, challenges, ideas, and innovative practices shaping the next generation of CRTEC and workforce development efforts.

Co-chairs:
Camilla Frost-Brewer
Cauleen Noel
Kristy Shuda McGuire

4:55PM - 5:00PM        Closing

Information Management Pre-Conference Workshop (IM)

(Co-Chairs: Brian Springer – Moffitt, in person; Bill Morgenweck – MUSC, virtual)

These sessions are designed to foster discussion and collaboration amongst Centers, considering both electronic tools, and the strategies and policies under them. While all discussions will be on site, some presenters/discussion leaders may be virtual.

 1:00PM – 2:00PM        Cancer Relevance: IT Strategies/Tools and Policies

(Bill Morgenweck - MUSC, virtual; Wendy Law – Fred Hutch, in person)

This session will focus on: 1) discussing strategies to get to more consistent cancer relevance policies across Centers, and 2) strategies to collect, track, and assign data using electronic tools.

2:00PM – 2:45PM        Helping Patients Understand: AI Tools for Visit Summaries, Discharge Instructions, and Lab Trends

(Bill Morgenweck - MUSC, virtual)

Cancer patients often leave visits with complex documentation, dense discharge instructions, and multi-year lab histories that are difficult to interpret. This session demonstrates how structured, guard railed AI tools can assist in translating clinical visit summaries, simplifying discharge instructions, and identifying longitudinal lab trends—without speculative interpretation or workflow disruption. Rather than replacing clinical judgment, these tools are designed to reduce cognitive load for patients and support care teams through disciplined, scope-limited AI outputs. Attendees will see practical examples of how guardrails transform general-purpose AI into a clinically responsible assistant focused on clarity, pattern recognition, and patient comprehension.

2:45PM – 3:00PM       BREAK

3:00PM – 3:30PM       ScienCV

(Sue Sharpe – Moffitt, virtual)

With the transition to ScienCV for biosketches, and other support, as well as the challenges in collecting these materials from faculty in multiple departments and areas, this session will focus on utilizing and applying this tool effectively.

3:30PM – 4:15PM        Data Table Discussion

(Lauren Hackett – Montefiore Einstein, in person;  Anita Harrison – UNC Lineberger, in person)

This is a key topic of regular interest to all members, considering how to develop, report, and monitor Data Tables, particularly in the absence of a traditional site visit.

4:15PM – 5:00PM        Using AI to develop more competitive grant applications

(Elizabeth Seckel and Brandi Stephens – both at Stanford, both virtual – requested but not confirmed)

This is a topic focusing on strategies to utilize artificial intelligence to enhance grant applications, while aligning with NIH policy.

Clinical Trial Workshop

Mastering the Bottom Line: Navigating Clinical Trials Office (CTO) Finance

Running a Clinical Trials Office at an NCI-designated Cancer Center is a high-stakes balancing act between mission-driven research and fiscal sustainability. Join your peers for this interactive, deep-dive session where we move beyond theory to tackle the real-world financial hurdles of the CTO. This session is designed for collaborative problem-solving. We will move through a curated series of roundtable discussions focused on the lifecycle of trial funding, from the initial "go/no-go" decision for underfunded trials to the complexities of post-award management.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Strategic Funding: Who makes the final call on trials that will lose money? We’ll discuss managing budgets at both the CTO and disease center levels to ensure institutional stability.

• Negotiation & Revenue Integrity: Compare your strategies for calculating effort, managing contingency allotments, and navigating different "rate cards" for Big Pharma versus lean startups.

• The Post-Award Grind: Share best practices for preventing AR aging, reconciling Medicare Coverage Analysis (MCA) with final invoices, and enforcing payment during study close-out.

• Optimizing the Workforce: How is your team structured? We’ll explore workload balancing between the Cancer Center and central offices, as well as the specialized roles required for collections and bankruptcies.

Come prepared to share your center’s "secret sauce" and leave with a toolkit of proven strategies to streamline your research finance operations.

Team Sciences Network Workshop

The overall goal of this hands-on workshop is to discuss the shifting federal funding landscape and strategies for supporting team science and member research at cancer centers through three focused sessions and networking opportunities.

Session 1 | Diversification of Funding & the Changing Funding Landscape 1:00 – 2:15

Speaker: Conafay Group
Facilitator: Kristina Herbert, PhD

This session will focus on discussing the changing federal funding landscape and the impacts that has on institutional strategies to navigate these changes while supporting and expanding research. The Conafay Group will lead attendees through a talk followed by questions, answers, and group discussion.

BREAK 2:15 – 2:30

Session 2 | Guided Speed Networking 2:30 – 3:30

Facilitator: Jill Slack-Davis, PhD

This session will focus on connecting with colleagues and discussing how centers are navigating the changes in policy landscape and funding priorities. Topics may include:

Helping to pivot research programs of Members
Navigating the changes to biosketches and other support with SciENcv
How are centers supporting the need to diversify funding (internal pilots, etc)
Implementing changes in the data and resource sharing plans
Lessons learned from early diversification strategies

BREAK 3:30 – 3:45

Session 3 | Facilitating Translation Through Team Science, Bench to Bedside 3:45 – 4:45

Facilitator: Kristen Scott, PhD

This session will focus on the discussing strategies to facilitate team science in the translational setting and will incorporate case studies that focus on different funding sponsors. Groups will discuss strategies working with government sponsors, pharma, institutional IITs, and philanthropic foundations. Groups will report out then compare and contrast strategies.

Closing | Wrap Up Discussion 4:45 – 5:00

5:30PM - 7:00PM  Principals Only Reception (invite only)

Sunday | April 12, 2026

8:00AM - 5:15PM Registration Desk Open

8:30 - 11:30AM Donuts with Gary’s Team Powdered Donut™
Stop by the Airstream in the Monona Terrace Parking Lot for a donut and share a story with Gary Thompson

9:00AM - 9:30AM - New Member Welcome
Melissa Fitzmaurice Neligan, Chief Administrative Officer / Associate Director of Administration, UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

9:30AM - 11:00AM  Affinity Group Meet-Ups

11:00AM - 1:00PM Lunch On Your Own

1:00PM - 1:15PM  Welcoming Remarks
Peter Connor, Chief Administrative Officer, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center 

1:15PM - 2:00PM  Keynote Speaker - Patrick O'Halloran

2:00PM - 2:45PM  NCI Office of Grants Administration Updates
Crystal Wolfrey, Chief Grants Management Officer, Office of Grants Administration, NCI

2:45PM - 3:15PM  Networking Break  

3:15PM - 4:00PM  Financial Session - Challenges/Solutions in IITs, Pilots, Program/Researcher Investments

4:00PM - 4:45PM  Evolving Scientific Shared Resources: Strategy, Sustainability, and Partnerships in Modern Cancer Centers

Moderators:
Seanne Falconer, Associate Director of Administration, Tulane Cancer Center
Kate Webster, Associate Director of Administration, University of Vermont Cancer Center

Panelists:
Teresa Christenson, Associate Director for Administration, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Aaron Schilz, MBA, Associate Director of Administration, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Jamey Weichert, PhD, Director of the Contrast Agent Laboratory, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

4:45PM - 5:15PM CCSG Updates
Krzysztof Ptak, PhD, MBA, Director, Office of Cancer Center NCI

5:15PM - 6:30PM  Welcome Reception in the ACCA Expo Hall & Poster Session Opening   

Monday | April 13, 2026

8:00AM - 9:00AM  Breakfast   

9:00AM - 9:45AM  Fireside Chat: Leadership Perspectives on the Value of Cancer Centers and the NCI Designation 

Join us for an engaging fireside chat featuring two health system CEOs and two medical school deans, each representing institutions with NCI-designated cancer centers or emerging centers. In this candid conversation, a skilled moderator will explore how these leaders perceive the value and future of NCI designation within the broader context of academic medicine and healthcare. They’ll discuss what matters most in oncology research, where it aligns—or diverges—from institutional priorities, and how designation supports strategic goals in patient care, innovation, and reputation. This rare dialogue between high-level decision-makers will offer attendees insight into the executive mindset around cancer center support and investment. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to communicate the impact of the cancer center's mission, align the cancer center's objectives with leadership priorities, and advocate for continued institutional commitment to cancer research, care, and education. 

Moderator:
Sam Lubner, MD, Assistant Dean for Students, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Panelists:
Julie A. Freischlag, MD, FACS, FRCSEd(Hon), DFSVS, MAMSE, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Academic Officer, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Bryce Gartland, MD, South Region President for Froedtert ThedaCare Health
Beth Wild, President, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

9:45AM - 10:30AM  EABs in a Changing Landscape: Rethinking How You Engage Your Center’s Most Crucial Advisors

Panelists:
Mindy Roberts, Associate Director of Administration, Knight Cancer Institute
Jennifer Rogers, Associate Director for Administration, University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center
Kate Shumate, Chief of Staff and Director, Administration and Planning, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center 

10:30AM - 11:00AM  Expo Break   

11:00AM - 11:45AM  Developmental Funds Debate - Two Teams debate the Value, Need, and Purpose of this CCSG Section

Debate Team #1
Alex Zafirovski, VP, Cancer Service Line at Northwestern Medicine
Max Loveless, Senior Administrative Director, Huntsman Cancer Institute

Debate Team #2
Aaron Schilz, Senior Administrative Director, Masonic Cancer Center
Kristin Van Raaphorst, Assistant Director for Research Administration, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

11:45AM - 12:30PM  Strengthening the Fabric of Research: From Early Detection to CRTEC—Bridging CCSG Pillars within the CTO

Description: In the evolving landscape of NCI-designated cancer centers, the Clinical Trials Office (CTO) must transcend its role as an operational hub to become a strategic partner in the broader CCSG mission. This panel discussion explores successful models for interweaving key pillars—Translational Research, Community Outreach and Engagement (COE), Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC), and Prevention and Detection—directly into the clinical research enterprise. Panelists will share novel strategies for integrating these key components while fostering a collaborative ecosystem that supports both scientific discovery and community impact.

Panelists:
Chloe Fournier, Associate Director of Administration, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center
Amy Jenkins, Associate Director of Administration, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Tess Cummings, Associate Director of Administration, Hillman Cancer Center
Travis Poole, Associate Director of Administration, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center

12:30PM - 2:00PM  Networking Lunch  

2:00PM - 2:45PM  Wait, How Did I Get Here? : Stories from Cancer Center Leaders

This session highlights the diverse and unexpected journeys that led today’s cancer center leaders into their roles. Through brief, candid stories from professionals who began in various fields, attendees will gain insight into the real pathways that shape our leadership landscape.

Moderators:
Ahlam Al-Kodmany, PhD; Associate Director of Administration; University of Illinois Cancer Center
Jess Richards, MHA; Associate Director of Administration; Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center
Lauren Whitmore, MA; Associate Director of Administration; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Panelists:
Ifeanyi Beverly Chukwudozie, PhD(c), MBA, MPH; Director, Office of Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC); University of Illinois Cancer Center
Alison Ivey, DHA, RN, MBA, OCN, CCRP; Associate Director of Administration; University of Florida Health Cancer Center
Emer Smyth, PhD; Associate Director of Administration; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Medical Center

2:45PM - 3:30PM  Practical AI for Cancer Center Administration: Learn about AI tools or Functions That Make a Difference in Your Role or the CCSG Submission

Panelists:
Jennifer Bird, In-Reach Coordinator, Carbone Cancer Center
Robin Dianics, Associate Director of Administration, The University of Missouri Ellis Fischel Cancer Center at MU Health Care
Jessica Moehle, Senior Clinical Research Administrative Director, Huntsman Cancer Institute
Benjamin Neter, Senior Clinical Research Program Manager, Northwell Health Cancer Institute
Brad Taylor, Chief Research Informatics Officer, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center

3:30PM - 4:00PM  Expo Break   

4:00PM - 4:30PM  ACCA Annual Business Meeting  

4:30PM - 5:15PM  Town Hall Commons Live!

Moderator:
Jennifer Rogers, Associate Director for Administration, University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center

Evening On Your Own   

Tuesday | April 14, 2026

8:00AM - 9:00AM  Breakfast   

9:00AM -9:45AM  Perspectives and Advice from the Most Recent CCSG Renewal Applicants

In this session, ADAs from centers with the most recently submitted CCSG renewal applications (September 2025 and January 2026) will discuss how the new review process informed and impacted their applications and what they know about any upcoming site visits for their centers.  Panelists will respond to previously collected attendee questions and answer additional “live” attendee questions throughout the session.

Moderator:
Nick Fisher, Executive Director of Research & Business Administration, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University & Barnes Jewish Hospital
Co-Chair:
Brian Springer, Vice President, Research Administration, Associate Center Director, Administration, Moffitt Cancer Center
Panelists:
Melanie Funes, Associate Director of Administration, UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dina Halme, Associate Director of Administration, University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center
Rae Ann Paden, Associate Director of Administration, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
Brian Springer, Vice President, Research Administration, Associate Center Director, Administration, Moffitt Cancer Center

9:45AM - 10:15AM   Expo Break   

10:15AM -11:00AM  Government Relations: Navigating Current Policy, Budgetary, and Regulatory Landscape
Affecting Cancer Centers

Join leading lobbyists and policy advocates for a critical examination of the evolving governmental landscape shaping cancer center operations and funding. This timely panel will decode the complex policy, budgetary, and regulatory environment that cancer center administrators must navigate, providing insider perspectives on current legislative priorities affecting cancer research funding,
emerging regulatory requirements impacting clinical operations, and advocacy strategies that are making a difference on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures. Expert panelists will explore practical approaches to building effective government relations, engaging policymakers around the cancer center priorities, and share real-world examples of successful advocacy campaigns and coalition-building
strategies. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable intelligence on the current policy environment, strategies for strengthening their institution’s government relations capacity, and tools to effectively advocate for sustainable funding and supportive policies that advance the cancer center's mission.

Moderator:
Pete Connor, Chief Administrative Officer, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center 
Panelists:
Michelle Seger, Senior Vice President at Venn Strategies
Alyssa Schatz, DrPH, MSW, (she/her) Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, National Comprehensive Cancer Network

11:00AM - 11:45AM  Town Hall with ACCA Board of Directors and Office of Cancer Centers (Pending)

*agenda subject to change