Newswise — Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD, director of the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, will be the new president of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) effective November 1, the association announced today.

“I look forward to Michelle’s leadership of AACI,” said AACI Executive Director Barbara Duffy Stewart. “As an administrator and researcher, Michelle has a deep understanding of the needs of the talented individuals who work together to build a cancer center. Her expertise and knowledge will be invaluable as AACI continues to focus on persisting challenges faced by cancer centers.”

Dr. Le Beau succeeds William S. Dalton, PhD, MD, longtime head of the Moffitt Cancer Center, in Tampa. Dr. Dalton stepped down in August as Moffitt's president, chief executive and center director to focus on leading the center’s new Personalized Medicine Institute. Dr. Dalton will also continue to serve as chief executive officer of M2Gen, Moffitt’s biotechnology subsidiary.

“It has been a privilege having had the opportunity to lead AACI,” Dr. Dalton said. “Ms. Stewart and her staff are performing a vital function for cancer institutes and cancer patients and I am confident that they will continue to provide world class service to the cancer research community under Dr. Le Beau’s leadership.”

Dr. Le Beau was elected as AACI’s Vice President/President-Elect in October 2011. “It’s an exciting challenge and honor to lead AACI, a vibrant organization led by Ms. Stewart, whose multidisciplinary programs have had a lasting impact on cancer research and care,” Dr. Le Beau said. “I’m delighted to work with the leaders of our nation’s cancer research enterprise in advancing our collective mission of translating cancer research into improved patient care, cancer prevention, and community outreach.”

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Representing 95 of the nation’s premier academic and free-standing cancer research centers, the Association of American Cancer Institutes is dedicated to promoting leading research institutions' efforts to eradicate cancer through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary program of cancer research, treatment, patient care, prevention, education and community outreach.