Become a Hollings Member

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center is proud to be a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center, where nearly 150 members are advancing cancer science across basic, clinical, translational, and population disciplines. Our members represent a broad spectrum of scientific expertise and work collaboratively to ensure that the latest discoveries are translated into innovative approaches for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Membership at Hollings is granted to MUSC faculty who demonstrate a strong commitment to cancer research and align with the center’s mission to eradicate cancer. Candidates typically hold current cancer-focused peer-reviewed grant funding or have made significant contributions to Hollings clinical trials. Early-stage investigators with career development awards are also encouraged to apply.

Hollings maintains rigorous standards for research membership. Applicants are expected to demonstrate scientific excellence and align with one of Hollings' three NCI-approved research programs:

Full Member (CCSG Member) Criteria

Full Members are MUSC faculty actively participating in basic, translational, clinical, or cancer prevention and control cancer research. Full Members must meet at least one of the following criteria:

Principal investigator (PI, multi-PI [MPI] or project leader of a multi-component grant) whose cancer-focused/relevant research is funded from a peer-reviewing agency or if from a non-peer-reviewing agency, must be a minimum two-year award with at least $100,000 direct costs/year.
Investigators who play a significant role as a co-investigator with other Hollings members as evidenced by co-investigator status on externally-funded, cancer-focused/relevant research grants (minimum of 50% effort in the preceding 3 years).
PI on cancer-focused/relevant NIH K-award or other peer-reviewed career-development award.
PI on a Hollings-sponsored interventional, investigator-initiated clinical trial.
Hollings clinical investigators who significantly enroll patients per year to interventional trials; Clinician accruing a minimum of 10 patients to interventional treatment (therapeutic), cancer-focused clinical trials per year; Clinician accruing a minimum of 10 patients to interventional non-treatment trials, particularly those that support the Hollings NCORP and demonstrate high collaboration or contribution to the NCI Research Bases.
Faculty who serve in a Hollings leadership role or as key personnel in a Hollings-supported shared resource.

Eligible for assignment to Hollings research space for cancer-related research activities.
Eligible to apply for pilot project research funding offered by Hollings.
Priority access to Hollings shared resources and technology at subsidized Member rates.
Priority access to peer-reviewed mechanism (Protocol Review Committee) for scientific and technical review of oncology clinical research studies involving humans and/or human specimens/data proposed for activation.
Invitations to Hollings research program meetings, seminars, retreats, and disease team events.
Inclusion in Hollings distribution lists on funding opportunities and cancer news.
Enhanced opportunities to develop collaborative research efforts.
Eligible for administrative support in submitting grant proposals and clinical trial protocols.
Public relations support and assistance.

All Hollings Members are required to support Cancer Center activities and help advance its mission. Full Membership responsibilities include:

Develop programmatic and interdisciplinary cancer-related research with other Hollings Members that further the scientific goals of the Cancer Center and lead to collaborative publications and research grants.
Participate in cancer center events including research program meetings, retreats, seminars, committees and disease working group meetings.
Participate in established Hollings multidisciplinary clinics, tumor boards, clinical trial meetings, and other Hollings sponsored clinical and educational programmatic activities.
Participate as a reviewer for Hollings’ intramural pilot project initiatives.
Acknowledge Hollings facilities, use of Center space and shared resources, and other support from the Center in cancer-related publications and presentations.
Participate in the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) application process to the NCI.
Participate as a mentor to students and trainees pursuing careers in cancer research through MUSC and Hollings sponsored programs.
Submit updated research information and progress, clinical trial details and accruals, other support, publications, CVs, and biosketches as requested, at least annually, to ensure administration has all necessary data for various reporting obligations.
Participate in efforts to raise visibility and/or financial support for Hollings.

Clinical and Research Affiliate Membership

Within Hollings, various faculty members contribute to the diverse functions of the cancer center, such as patient care and education. Faculty and non-faculty personnel—including instructors, research associates, and non-tenure track assistant professors—who do not fulfill the specified Full Membership criteria will be designated as Affiliate Members and excluded from the CCSG and its related reporting. If individuals meet the membership criteria in the future, they may be reconsidered for inclusion as Full Members.

Affiliate Membership Benefits

Eligible to apply for pilot project research funding offered by Hollings.
Invitations to Hollings research program meetings, seminars, retreats, and disease team events.
Inclusion in Hollings distribution lists on funding opportunities, cancer news, symposia and seminar announcements.

Take the next step

Membership Application Process

To apply for membership, interested faculty must submit the following information online through the Hollings Membership Application portal:

Completed Hollings membership application.
Selection of appropriate membership category based on criteria.
Selection of the Hollings research program that aligns best with applicant’s portfolio.
Cancer focus research statement.
Current NIH biosketch.

New applications are evaluated monthly by the Hollings Research Committee (RC), with program leaders presenting and the Hollings Director having the final authority to approve or disapprove membership. Annually, Hollings administration reviews membership to ensure guideline compliance, and any changes are decided by the RC, subject to the Director’s approval.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting Julia Singleton at singleju@musc.edu.

Annual Review and Renewal Process

The Hollings RC reviews the research productivity (e.g., grants, publications, trial accrual, and program participation) of members annually and votes either to renew or recategorize Affiliate Members as Full Members, and vice versa.