The Patient Advisory Council (PAC) provides Huntsman Cancer Institute researchers with patient and caregiver perspectives to strengthen the relevance, feasibility, and impact of cancer research.
Through structured presentations and discussion, researchers receive feedback from individuals with lived experience of cancer to help inform research design, implementation, and patient-centered outcomes.
Council Members
Patient Advisors
Asha Pruitt
Ned Weinshenker, PhD
John Tahbaz, PhD
Scientific Liaisons
Scientific liaisons may include faculty members or trainees interested in improving patient-centered research communication by supporting the investigators in preparing materials for a patient and caregiver audience.
Mumtaz Shirin
Graduate Research Assistant
Huntsman Cancer Institute
Reilly Falter
Graduate Research Assistant
Huntsman Cancer Institute
Types of Research Appropriate for PAC Review
PAC presentations are most helpful when investigators are seeking feedback on one or more of the following:
- Early-stage research concepts
- Grant proposals in development
- Patient-centered outcomes research
- Recruitment and retention strategies
- Study design elements affecting patient experience
- Patient communication and dissemination plans
PAC does not provide scientific peer review.
Feedback focuses on patient experience, feasibility, and real-world impact.
Submission Information
Investigators interested in presenting to PAC should complete the PAC Presentation Request Form at least four weeks prior to the desired meeting date. Meetings occur monthly.
To submit a request to present to PAC, the following information is needed:
- Investigator name and department
- Study title or grant name
- Funding source (if applicable)
- Brief description of the research question
- Stage of project (concept, proposal development, funded study, etc.)
- Specific questions for PAC feedback
Applicants will be notified within one week following application submission if they have been invited to present. The PAC coordinator will schedule the presentation at the next available meeting.
Once a presentation is confirmed, a scientific liaison will be assigned to support the investigator in preparing materials for a patient and caregiver audience.