Oncologist selected to head National Cancer Institute

President Donald Trump has named Norman “Ned” Sharpless, the director of the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, to lead the National Cancer Institute.

The oncologist and geneticist will succeed Doug Lowy, who has been acting director of NCI since early 2015. Lowy is expected to remain at the institute as deputy director and a researcher.

Sharpless, 50, has done extensive work on how cells age and become malignant. He sees patients at North Carolina Cancer Hospital, which is the clinical home for UNC Lineberger.

His selection drew praise from people involved in cancer research and treatment. Derek Raghavan, president of the Levine Cancer Institute, which is part of Carolinas HealthCare System in Charlotte, called Sharpless an expert in “translational” medicine, with a deep understanding of both the research and clinical aspects of the rapidly changing cancer field.

Yet he noted Sharpless is assuming the post “at a very tough time,” given the Trump administration’s proposed 20 percent budget cut for the National Institutes of Health. As part of that, the NCI is targeted for a $1 billion cut. The new director “has some challenges ahead of him,” Raghavan said.

Otis Brawley, chief medical and scientific officer of the American Cancer Society, said Sharpless is “very much qualified” for the position given his experience as director of a major cancer center and his strong track record as a researcher.