Masonic Cancer Center welcomes new leadership in the Transplant, Cellular and Experimental Therapeutics Program
The Masonic Cancer Center (MCC), University of Minnesota is excited to announce new leadership appointments within the Transplant, Cellular and Experimental Therapeutics (TCET) Program. Branden Moriarity, PhD, and Nick Zorko, MD, PhD, will join as Program Co-Leaders along with the existing leader, Veronika Bachanova, MD, PhD. John Wagner, MD, has agreed to stay on as a senior advisor to the TCET Program during this transition in preparation for the 2028 Cancer Center Support Grant renewal submission.
Dr. Moriarity officially began his tenure as Co-Leader in April 2026. In this pivotal leadership role, he will help steer the program's translational research vision from the perspective of a translational basic scientist, fostering collaborative innovation and driving critical advancements in cellular therapies and experimental oncology.
Complementing this leadership transition, Dr. Zorko assumed his role as Program Co-Leader in July 2026. Dr. Zorko’s appointment further bolsters the program’s capacity to accelerate the translation of novel scientific discoveries into impactful clinical applications with a focus on solid tumors, enhancing the center's robust research pipeline. In addition to his program leadership responsibilities, Dr. Zorko will serve as the Minnesota Cancer Clinical Trials Network Fairview Partner Lead, helping to extend successful clinical models into a metrowide and statewide delivery network, expanding access and national visibility.
Together, these appointments represent a powerful combination of expertise and forward-looking vision, positioning MCC’s TCET Program for continued excellence, growth, and groundbreaking innovation in cancer research.
We look forward to celebrating Drs. Moriarity and Zorko in their respective leadership roles and watching the program thrive under their guidance.