Biography

Dr. Cornelia “Neli” Ulrich is the chief scientific officer and executive director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Jon M. and Karen Huntsman Presidential Professor in Cancer Research at the University of Utah’s Department of Population Health Sciences. In her role as chief scientific officer, she leads over 300 research teams dedicated to advancing cancer science and improving health outcomes. Previously, she directed the National Center for Tumor Diseases in Heidelberg, Germany, bringing international perspectives to cancer leadership.

Dr. Ulrich is a renowned cancer epidemiologist and a leading expert in cancer prevention, molecular epidemiology, and survivorship. Her interdisciplinary research has been pivotal in revealing how health behaviors such as physical activity, obesity, and diet influence cancer risk and outcomes. She has also conducted multiple exercise clinical trials that explore underlying biologic mechanisms and the role of physical activity in adjuvant cancer therapy. Over the course of her career, she has authored more than 500 scientific publications and led more than 26 grants to advance evidence-based strategies that support survivors, clarify biologic pathways, develop biomarkers of treatment response, and promote healthier communities.

Motivated by her wish to improve the health of rural populations and provide access to all, she has broadened Huntsman Cancer Institute’s catchment area to formally encompass five states—Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana—driving innovations, including through artificial intelligence, to overcome distance from care as a barrier.

Dr. Ulrich’s leadership extends beyond the lab. She is a former Fulbright scholar, served on the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and chairs a newly formed National Cancer Advisory Board Working Group. She holds or has held influential roles in organizations such as the American Association for Cancer Research, the European Association for Cancer Research, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Her service on multiple advisory boards of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers reflects her commitment to the research community and to translating science into public impact.

She has also contributed significantly to the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI), where she chaired the 2022 AACI/CCAF Program Committee—leading the first in-person meeting after the COVID-19 pandemic and shaping critical discussions on the future of cancer research, including COVID-19 recovery, the Cancer Moonshot, and precision oncology. She has participated as a panelist in AACI’s new directors’ meetings, the Inclusive Excellence Initiative Steering Committee, and AACI/CCAF leadership forums, sharing insights on effective cancer center leadership and inclusive strategies. In addition, she has been a frequent participant in Capitol Hill advocacy days, collaborating with colleagues from other cancer centers in advancing national support for biomedical research and cancer prevention.

Her many honors—including the Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology, the Simon Shubitz Award from the University of Chicago, Collaborative Science Awards, and recognition as a Best Female Scientist—underscore her impact on science and society. They also mirror her guiding philosophy as a cancer center director: to advance discovery science, cancer prevention, and clinical care through collaborative research, leadership, and policy – transforming knowledge into hope for patients and communities.