The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center announces that radiation oncologist Dr. Charles Kunos will join the center and serve as medical director of Markey’s Clinical Research Office (CRO).

In this role, Kunos will work to improve accrual to cancer clinical trials, maintain quality oversight of CRO processes and activity, and lead MCC’s efforts to decrease time-to-activation across all types of trials, in preparation for renewal of NCI designation in September 2022. Kunos will work closely with MCC senior leadership to ensure adequate resources and financial oversight of the CRO.

Additionally, Kunos is now a member of Markey’s Translational Oncology Research Program and is a professor of radiation medicine in the UK College of Medicine.

"I’m thrilled to join the Markey Cancer Center for this exciting leadership opportunity in the Clinical Research Office, and to provide clinical radiation medicine practice for the health and well-being of Kentuckians," Kunos said.

Kunos received his medical degree and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. Since 2016, he has served as a medical officer for the Investigational Drug Branch at the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program. In that role, he encouraged experimental therapeutic discovery, implemented clinical trials, monitored clinical trial toxicities, reported adverse events to regulatory agencies and provided public stewardship of U.S. government resources.