Bradley Cairns, PhD, Begins Tenure as CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute

Sep 03, 2025

Read Time: 6 minutes

Takeaways:

Dr. Cairns succeeds Mary Beckerle, PhD, who led Huntsman Cancer Institute for more than 20 years and will remain as a faculty member and join the Huntsman Cancer Foundation Board of Directors.
His leadership helped launch the Comprehensive Cancer Center in Vineyard, expanding access to care.

Impact: Cairns will drive innovation in cancer science and strengthen partnerships across Utah and beyond.

Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) welcomes , as chief executive officer. Cairns began his role on September 1, 2025. The University of Utah selected Cairns to lead Huntsman Cancer Institute in July following the announcement by then-CEO , that she intended to step down from the position after more than 20 years of distinguished service.

Cairns seeks to build and extend on the legacy of Beckerle, crediting her transformative tenure as one that elevated the institute to national prominence in cancer research, education, prevention, care, and community engagement. Beckerle will continue to serve Huntsman Cancer Institute as a member of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation Board of Directors and a faculty member at the U.

Beckerle expressed her enthusiasm for the appointment of Cairns, sharing, “Dr. Cairns is a deeply respected and effective leader whose commitment to Huntsman Cancer Institute’s mission is unwavering,” Beckerle says. “Bradley’s appointment as CEO means we do not miss a beat in advancing Huntsman Cancer Institute’s ambitious vision to deliver a cancer-free frontier. Under Bradley’s leadership, we will build on our momentum and ensure Huntsman Cancer Institute will continue to deliver hope and healing for all impacted by cancer for generations to come.”

Beckerle notes Cairns’ leadership has already been instrumental in bringing Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Comprehensive Cancer Center in Vineyard to fruition, a project that will extend access to lifesaving care and research to communities closer to where they live.

“Bradley’s appointment as CEO means we do not miss a beat in advancing Huntsman Cancer Institute’s ambitious vision to deliver a cancer-free frontier.”

Mary Beckerle, PhD

Cairns is an internationally renowned cancer cell biologist who has served at Huntsman Cancer Institute since its founding. He made major discoveries in gene packaging and expression—processes essential to all cells and are disrupted in about 20% of all cancers. As a graduate student at Stanford University, Cairns identified and isolated the first gene packaging and unpackaging protein complex, a discovery that has shaped the trajectory of his career. His lab has also deepened our understanding of gene expression regulation and cell growth in early embryonic development and in cancer. Among his most distinguished scientific honors was his 2000 appointment as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, a highly competitive recognition that supports the nation’s most innovative and promising scientists. In 2023, Cairns was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the world’s oldest science academy, and as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2017.

At Huntsman Cancer Institute, Cairns most recently served as head of academic affairs, a role that advanced pivotal programs to develop faculty and staff leaders to reach their highest potential in service to the mission of Huntsman Cancer Institute. Key initiatives under his oversight included the establishment of the Leadership Excellence Advancement and Development (LEAD) Program. LEAD joins together cohorts of clinical investigators, cancer research scientists, and senior staff leaders to foster growth in leadership skills designed to advance the culture and impact of Huntsman Cancer Institute. Cairns also spearheaded the organization of scientific and experiential learning programs with Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University, designed to enhance pathways for more Utah students to prepare for the future health and research workforce. These include the Huntsman Cancer Institute-Utah Valley University Health Collaborative which provides experiential learning through work opportunities in cancer. Also, he initiated two endeavors with Brigham Young University: one engages biomedical informatics students in cancer-focused capstone projects utilizing methods including artificial intelligence and data science; the other provides full-time summer research opportunities in an array of cancer research areas.

“His deep roots at the University of Utah have earned him a reputation for transforming discoveries from bench to bedside."

Taylor Randall, PhD

Taylor Randall, president of the U, lauded the appointment of Cairns. “Dr. Cairns represents the spirit of innovation and impact that defines Huntsman Cancer Institute,” President Randall says. “His deep roots at the University of Utah have earned him a reputation for transforming discoveries from bench to bedside, and in advancing a culture that inspires people to do their best. He is uniquely qualified to lead the institute. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Cairns in this new capacity.”

As the leader of Huntsman Cancer Institute, Cairns will work closely with Huntsman Cancer Foundation and their work to raise funds that have been essential to the organization since its founding. This includes investment in key areas of impact for Huntsman Cancer Institute research and clinical care programs, and advancing work in strategic areas, including eliminating barriers to care for rural cancer patients, accelerating cancer genetic discovery, and harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to improve cancer discovery, prevention, and treatment.

“His leadership, integrity, and vision embody the values that have guided the institute since its founding.”

Peter Huntsman

“I welcome Dr. Cairns to this new role and know from many years working alongside him that he is a leader who will deliver on the promise of this extraordinary organization,” says Peter Huntsman, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Foundation. “His leadership, integrity, and vision embody the values that have guided the institute since its founding. Our family is thrilled to offer him our full support.”

Michael Delzotti, FAHP, CFRE, president and chief operating officer of Huntsman Cancer Foundation, expressed confidence in theinstitute’s future under Cairns’ guidance: “Huntsman Cancer Institute has long set the standard for excellence in cancer research and care, and Dr. Cairns is the right leader to carry that forward. Huntsman Cancer Foundation is so happy to welcome him as CEO. I look forward to working with him as he joins us in our philanthropic efforts to advance the institute’s mission.”

“Huntsman Cancer Institute has long set the standard for excellence in cancer research and care, and Dr. Cairns is the right leader to carry that forward."

Michael Delzotti, FAHP, CFRE

For more than a decade, Cairns served in a major leadership role at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, where he led the Department of Oncological Sciences, which is housed within Huntsman Cancer Institute. In that role, he was credited for leading exceptional contributions in the department, including recruiting high-impact cancer researchers, creating a collaborative environment that enables those researchers to succeed, and advancing partnerships with clinical teams to enhance translational impact of laboratory findings.

Bob Carter, MD, PhD, senior vice president for health sciences at the U, welcomed Cairns and noted the �鶹ѧ��Ʒ�� system is honored to serve as a key partner and collaborator in advancing the mission of Huntsman Cancer Institute. “Dr. Cairns’ bold leadership and scientific expertise will accelerate progress in cancer research and care, bringing hope and innovation to patients and families in Utah, across the Mountain West, and beyond. The entire U Health community looks forward to working with Dr. Cairns and his outstanding leadership team in delivering hope and healing to cancer patients,” says Carter.

“Dr. Cairns’ bold leadership and scientific expertise will accelerate progress in cancer research and care."

Bob Carter, MD, PhD

Cairns outlines his approach for this next chapter of leadership.

“As part of the Huntsman Cancer Institute community for more than 28 years, I can say that this organization is an integral part of who I am," says Cairns. "I have witnessed what vision, passion, leadership, and teams of great people can build, and it gives me so much optimism for our next 25 years together. It is a true honor to lead an organization with such exceptional people who are deeply committed to patients, discovery, and service. I am inspired every day by the amazing work happening across our clinics, laboratories, and communities. Being part of such a resolute community at Huntsman Cancer Institute, with critical partners deeply engaged in our success, including the University of Utah, �鶹ѧ��Ʒ��, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, and many others, will always be top of mind as we work together to advance impact in all areas of our mission.”

The critical research happening every day at Huntsman Cancer Institute is supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, including cancer center support grant P30 CA042014, as well as Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

Media Contact

Heather Simonsen
Public Affairs Senior Manager
Huntsman Cancer Institute
801 581-3194
public.affairs@hci.utah.edu

About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah

Huntsman Cancer Institute at the 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 the most advanced cancer healing and prevention through scientific breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology to create pioneering cancer treatments beyond the standard of care today. We have more than 325 open clinical trials and 276 research teams studying cancer. 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.