UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center recently recruited Jeremy Rich, MD, MHS, MBA, to be its inaugural deputy director of research and chief scientific officer. He was also appointed professor of neurology at the UNC School of Medicine. Previously the interim director and a professor of neurology and medicine at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh, Rich brings extensive experience as a physician-scientist and administrator to this new role.
“Jeremy’s extensive experience in clinical and research settings, particularly in neuro-oncology, will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission to provide world-class cancer care and drive innovative research that can lead to transformative treatments for our patients,” said Robert Ferris, MD, PhD, executive director of UNC Lineberger and chief of the oncology clinical services at UNC Health.
Rich is a board-certified neuro-oncologist specializing in the multidisciplinary care of patients with advanced brain tumors. His research is focused on developing novel therapies that target regulatory pathways and, specifically, the clinical relevance of cancer stem cells and the interaction with the tumor micro-environment and underlying genetic driver mutations in human cancers. He has received extensive research funding from the federal government and foundations, including the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Department of Defense, American Cancer Society, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, Brain Tumor Society and The Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research.
As deputy director of research and chief scientific officer, Rich will be instrumental in advancing the cancer center’s research initiatives. This includes fostering collaborations across basic, translational, clinical and population sciences, leading the development of its 2025-2030 strategic plans, supporting faculty recruitment, expanding education and mentoring programs and helping to showcase our cancer center’s research impact locally and nationally.
Rich earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, graduating summa cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis, and his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his neurology residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a neuro-oncology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center. He also holds an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, and a master of health science in clinical leadership from Duke.
He is a prolific author, having published more than 320 peer-reviewed papers in some of the top scientific journals. For the past six years, Clarivate has named Rich to its Highly Cited Researchers list, an honor recognizing scientists who published papers ranked in the top 1% of cited publications in their field. He also serves on the editorial boards of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Research, Science Translational Medicine, Cancer Discovery and several other scientific journals.
Before he was at UPMC, Rich led the Brain Tumor Institute and was co-director of the solid tumor therapeutics program at the University of California, San Diego. He also chaired the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. In each of these roles, he made significant contributions to the fields of cancer research, particularly in the development of cutting-edge treatments for brain tumors and other cancers.
His achievements include receiving the Damon Runyon-Lilly Clinical Investigator Award and the American Academy of Neurology Neuro-Oncology Scientific Award, among many other accolades. He has also been an active member of key scientific societies such as the American Academy of Neurology, the Society for Neuro-Oncology, and the American Association for Cancer Research, further solidifying his leadership role in shaping the future of cancer research and clinical practice.