MCC Announcement on a Maroon Background with Logo

Masonic Cancer Center announces leadership transition and vision for the future

The Masonic Cancer Center (MCC), University of Minnesota is embarking on an exciting new chapter as part of its mission to reduce the burden of cancer in Minnesota and beyond. With gratitude for the many leaders who have shaped the center’s remarkable legacy over the past 30 years, we are pleased to announce a directorship transition that positions MCC for continued growth and success.

We extend our deepest appreciation to Dr. Douglas Yee for his exceptional leadership over nearly 18 years as director. Under his guidance, MCC achieved several noteworthy milestones, including most recently earning its best-ever Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) score from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), locking in critical federal funding through January 2029. This milestone reflects MCC’s commitment to groundbreaking research, clinical excellence, and meaningful community partnerships.

We are pleased to announce that Jakub Tolar, vice president of clinical affairs for the University of Minnesota, has appointed a new interim director and interim deputy director for the Masonic Cancer Center. 

Jeffrey Miller, MD
Jeffrey Miller, MD, Interim Director

Jeffrey Miller, MD, will serve as Interim Director of the Masonic Cancer Center. In this role he will work to position our cancer center for the future, including preparing for the next NCI Cancer Center Support Grant renewal. Dr. Miller is a longstanding cancer center and University of Minnesota (UMN) faculty member, having joined the Department of Medicine in 1991. Over the years he has held many leadership roles at MCC, including serving as its Deputy Director and Co-Leader of the Immunology Program. He also holds the Roger L. and Lynn C. Headrick Chair in Cancer Therapeutics at the UMN Medical School.

As a dedicated researcher and active physician who focuses on blood cancers, blood and marrow transplant, and cancer immunotherapy, Dr. Miller’s research grants now go beyond leukemia to treat solid tumors. His research focuses on how stem cells develop into functioning natural killer (NK) cells and investigates how to manipulate NK cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) or immune engagers to make NK cells antigen specific.

Dr. Miller is a highly accomplished and strategic leader who will advance the Masonic Cancer Center’s excellence in research, innovative and multidisciplinary collaboration, and partnership with the communities we serve.

David Largaespada, PhD
David Largaespada, PhD, Interim Deputy Director

We are also pleased to share that David Largaespada, PhD, will serve as Interim Deputy Director. Dr. Largaespada also has a long history as an MCC member and has previously served as leader of the Genetic Mechanisms Program and as Associate Director for Basic Research. He holds the Hedberg Family/Children’s Cancer Research Fund Chair in Brain Tumor Research and is a professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development. He is an authority on mouse genetics, gene modification, and cancer functional genomics.

During this transition, MCC is focused on ensuring sustainability and building a leadership framework that strengthens our foundation as an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Over the next two years, we will finalize a leadership plan that leverages our strengths and aligns with our vision for innovation, collaboration, and impact.

MCC remains steadfast in its commitment to improving health outcomes across Minnesota and globally. Our clinical research programs, including the Minnesota Cancer Clinical Trials Network (MNCCTN), will continue to play a vital role in advancing our mission alongside key institutional relationships that enable us to allocate resources effectively, recruit top talent, and meet the needs of our diverse communities.

Please join us in congratulating Drs. Miller and Largaespada on their new roles! We are excited to leverage their expertise to build on MCC’s legacy of excellence and innovation. Together with our dedicated researchers, clinicians, and partners, we will continue to push the boundaries of cancer prevention, detection, and treatment—improving lives and fostering hope for a future free from cancer.