Scott Lippman to Launch NCI’s PreCancer Genome Atlas

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Scott Lippman, MD, will launch and lead the PreCancer Genome Atlas, a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored effort to map in time and space all of the molecular, cellular and structural characteristics of premalignant lesions and how they evolve into invasive cancers. 

Scott Lippman, MD, will remain as associate vice chancellor for cancer research and care at University of California San Diego and transition from his current role as director of Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health.

Lippman, who became director of Moores Cancer Center in 2012, oversaw a period of notable growth, collaboration and discovery. He will remain as director during a national search for his successor. 

“Dr. Lippman has not only achieved everything we had hoped during his tenure as director, he has exceeded all expectations. Oncology at UC San Diego Health is now one of the leading academic cancer centers in the world, much of that due to Dr. Lippman’s leadership,” said David Brenner, MD, vice chancellor for health sciences at UC San Diego. “Dr. Lippman is also directing the the cancer initiative for the entire UC system.”

“It has been an extraordinary 10 years and I am very grateful to all of my outstanding colleagues at UC San Diego and in the San Diego community for making my vision a reality,” said Lippman, who is also a Distinguished Professor of Medicine and holder of the Chugai Pharmaceutical Chair in Cancer. “It is very exciting to step into a new leadership role at UC San Diego Health and continue patient care and research to make a difference in patients’ lives. I look forward to welcoming a new director to take the lead for the next generation of Moores Cancer Center and am eager to watch its bright future unfold.”

Lippman’s tenure has been highlighted by significant clinical growth to 400 physicians, nurses and staff serving more than 100,000 patients annually, and facilities expansion to five clinical locations in the region and three affiliations.

Under his leadership, the Pauline and Stanley Foster Pavilion for Cancer Care opened in 2016; the Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion in 2018; and the Center for Novel Therapeutics in 2019. In October of this year, University of California Regents approved a $2.5 billion Hillcrest Medical Campus re-development that will include a new outpatient cancer pavilion, slated to open in late-2025.

“Dr. Lippman has made us so proud of our cancer care,” said Patty Maysent, CEO, UC San Diego Health. “Our vision is built around the idea that no one should ever need to leave San Diego to receive world-class health care. Dr. Lippman and his team at Moores Cancer Center have made that vision a reality and I am very grateful to him for his unsurpassed dedication and relentless commitment to making a significant difference for the patient.”

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Moores Cancer Center #17 in the nation, up from #47 in 2020.

“I am particularly proud of the exceptional accomplishments and impact of our faculty and staff, and the growing national recognition we have garnered in places like the U.S. News & World Report rankings and our ongoing, fruitful collaborations with other distinguished NCI Comprehensive Cancer Centers,” said Lippman who launched both the University of California Cancer Consortium and the San Diego NCI Cancer Centers Council (C3).

Lippman also guided Moores Cancer Center through two highest-scoring competitive NCI renewals, earning an Exceptional designation, a distinction held by only the top 1 percent of national cancer centers. He also successfully redeveloped the philanthropic program, growing annual charitable donations from $8 million to $60 million in Fiscal Year 2021.

“Developing the highest-level cancer care in San Diego has been my priority since day one and this has been accomplished under Dr. Lippman’s leadership,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla.

“We are forever grateful to Dr. Lippman for his impact on cancer care and research, and we are delighted that he will assume a broader role at UC San Diego as associate vice chancellor for cancer research and care, focusing on high priority strategic initiatives. His commitment to ensuring a successful transition to our next director illustrates his strength of character and dedication to our community.”