image: Mary Beckerle, PhD
Credit: Huntsman Cancer Institute
Mary Beckerle, PhD, announced today she will step down as CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) effective September 1, 2025. Beckerle has held the role of CEO since 2006.
Under Beckerle’s leadership, Huntsman Cancer Institute became the region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and advanced extraordinary growth in infrastructure, national reputation, cancer discovery, and clinical expertise to communities across the Mountain West.
“Through the visionary guidance of Dr. Beckerle, Huntsman Cancer Institute was propelled to international prominence in cancer research, care, and community impact,” said Taylor Randall, president of the U. “She has marshaled every aspect of Huntsman Cancer Institute to advance the audacious goal of Jon M. Huntsman: to eradicate cancer from the face of the earth. We are deeply grateful for Dr. Beckerle’s extraordinary service and direction. As we look to the future, we do so with full confidence that Huntsman Cancer Institute will continue to thrive—guided by the strength and focus of its inspiring mission and energized by the leadership that will carry its vision forward.”
The U announced that distinguished cancer cell biologist Brad Cairns, PhD, head of academic affairs at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor of oncological sciences at the U, will serve as the next CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute. Cairns has been a member of Huntsman Cancer Institute’s leadership team for 15 years, and like Beckerle, has been with the organization since its founding.
“Dr. Beckerle’s personal motto is ‘tempo’—a call for everyone at Huntsman Cancer Institute to move rapidly forward in advancing cancer discovery and care, understanding that patients are urgently counting on each of us,” said Bob Carter, MD, PhD, senior vice president for health sciences at the U. “I am thrilled that Dr. Cairns has accepted our invitation to become Huntsman Cancer Institute’s next CEO. He is so deeply embedded in every aspect of its success since it opened its doors, bringing innovative and steady leadership along with a commitment to the ‘tempo’ required to deliver rapid progress and advance Huntsman Cancer Institute’s mission at the University of Utah.”
Beckerle oversaw the extension of access to Huntsman Cancer Institute care, expertise, education, and research to communities across the Mountain West. At Huntsman Cancer Institute’s main location at the U, she led two major expansions of its cancer hospital as the regional population increased rapidly. This grew inpatient capacity from 50 to 148 beds, increased annual outpatient visits to more than 350,000, and resulted in the region’s first and only center for proton therapy. Research space and impact also grew with a doubling of laboratories and new infrastructure in population sciences, shared resources, and more.
During Beckerle’s leadership, Huntsman Cancer Institute drew world-class talent to Utah, who were attracted to the organization’s collaborative spirit and model that set scientists up for success, in addition to the ability to advance research discoveries from the lab to the clinic. More than 270 Huntsman Cancer Institute research teams annually secure nearly $140 million in new cancer research funds to Utah, supporting more than 650 major projects in lab, clinic, and population sciences. This provides opportunities for more than 8,000 people to participate in research studies, facilitating more than 325 cancer clinical treatment trials, and training nearly 700 individuals from high school to early faculty with a variety of programs designed to help them succeed in cancer medicine and science.
Beckerle worked closely with University of Utah Health hospitals and clinics leaders to develop six affiliate cancer hospital sites in five neighboring states, planning collaboratively with local care partners to elevate the standard of cancer care across the region. New community clinic sites were established to better serve cancer patients across the Wasatch Front. Looking to the future and need for increased access to cancer research and care to more communities in the region, Beckerle was a major driver of the launch of the new Huntsman Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in Vineyard, Utah County. She also helped outline Huntsman Cancer Institute’s presence at the University of Utah Health Eccles Health Campus in West Valley City.
“For the past 20 years, Dr. Mary Beckerle has been at the forefront of building Huntsman Cancer Institute into one of the premier cancer research and clinical care institutes in the world. Mary has been the CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute since 2006,” said Peter Huntsman, Chairman and CEO of Huntsman Cancer Foundation. “During her tenure, Huntsman Cancer Institute achieved the highly coveted recognition as a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Under her leadership, she and the 4,000 associates of Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Utah have made our family’s ambition around cancer treatment a reality. I am delighted that Mary will continue her association as she moves to a position of serving on the board of directors that oversees Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Our family is also delighted with the opportunity we will have to continue to support and work with Dr. Brad Cairns as he assumes the responsibility of being the CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute. We have had the good fortune of working with Brad and seeing firsthand his intellect, passion, and leadership in building Huntsman Cancer Institute since 1999. Brad exemplifies the wonderful character of all of the associates of the cancer center. President Taylor Randall and Dr. Bob Carter made a bold and wise decision in appointing Brad.”
“It is an incredible honor to have served at Huntsman Cancer Institute since the organization opened its doors in 1999,” said Beckerle. “I am asked so often by colleagues around the world how it is possible we have achieved so much in a relatively short time. The answer to me is clear: our people, all united around a compelling mission. Emanating from our inspiring principal benefactors, the Jon M. and Karen Huntsman family, to our patients, donors, faculty, clinical providers, staff, students, and all who stand by our side—we have convened a community where every aspect of what we do is laser focused on delivering hope, healing, and improved outcomes for cancer patients. I am thrilled to see Brad take the helm and know the institute will achieve even greater heights under the leadership of my passionate and dedicated colleague,” continued Beckerle.
Cairns, an internationally renowned scientist, is a longtime Huntsman Cancer Institute leader, currently serving as head of academic affairs. He has held numerous roles, including chair of the Department of Oncological Sciences and director of graduate programs in molecular biology at the U. His National Institutes of Health and Howard Hughes Medical Institute-funded research has helped shape the field of cancer epigenetics and precision oncology. Cairns is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Society, the world’s oldest scientific academy whose members include Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Stephen Hawking.
At Huntsman Cancer Institute, Cairns has overseen major institutional initiatives, including expanded collaborations with Brigham Young University (BYU), Utah Valley University (UVU), and the U to engage students across the state in cancer training. He led the establishment of the Huntsman Cancer Institute-UVU Health Collaborative, and graduate capstone projects at Huntsman Cancer Institute for BYU biomedical informatics students in efforts to extend reach of the official comprehensive cancer center of Utah to more students in the state.
“I am honored to step into the CEO role at Huntsman Cancer Institute, humbled by the history of this organization—the compassion and drive of those who have come before me—and deeply motivated in service to cancer patients everywhere who are urgently counting on us to deliver on the promise of this lifesaving institution,” said Cairns. “I am incredibly grateful to Mary for her leadership and mentorship and for the foundation she has built for this next phase at Huntsman Cancer Institute.”
Cairns received his PhD from Stanford University in cell biology in the lab of Nobel laureate Roger Kornberg, PhD, and later completed postdoctoral training in the lab of Fred Winston, PhD, in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. He holds the Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, given by the Utah State Legislature in 2018 upon the passing of Jon M. Huntsman.
Cairns looks to the future of Huntsman Cancer Institute with considerable optimism. “In the fields of cancer research and therapies, I am astounded at the progress that has been made recently, which would have been unimaginable only a few years ago. Similarly, at Huntsman Cancer Institute, thanks to an endlessly dedicated and talented team of faculty, trainees and staff—along with our special collaborative culture—we are poised to drive innovation focused on delivering health and healing to cancer patients here in the Mountain West and beyond.”
Additional details about Cairns and his vision for the future of Huntsman Cancer Institute will be distributed as he begins his tenure in September 2025. Beckerle will remain in service to Huntsman Cancer Institute and the U as a member of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation board of directors and distinguished professor of biology and oncological sciences at the U. She will also continue to serve as a member on a number of boards and advisory groups, including the Medical Advisory Board of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Scientific Advisory Council of the American Association for Cancer Research.
About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering a cancer-free frontier to all communities in the area we serve. We have more than 300 open clinical trials and 250 research teams studying cancer at any given time. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient’s unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.