The University of Vermont Cancer Center (UVMCC) is proud to announce the appointment of Brian Cunniff, Ph.D., as the inaugural Juckett Faculty Scholar, a distinguished faculty honor recognizing exceptional cancer researchers whose work meaningfully advances the center’s mission. 

Supported by the J. Walter Juckett Foundation, the Juckett Faculty Scholar honors established UVM Cancer Center members who demonstrate excellence in fundamental, translational, population-based, or clinical research.   

Advancing Cancer Research in Vermont and Beyond  

Dr. Cunniff is an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UVM’s Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine; and an honorary visiting fellow in the Department Genetics, Genomics and Cancer Sciences at the University of Leicester UK. He has earned national and international recognition for his innovative research in cellular redox biology, mitochondrial dynamics, and cancer biology and treatment. His work integrates molecular, cell, animal, and translational approaches to uncover novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer. 

His team at the Cunniff Lab focuses on understanding how mitochondrial dynamics and metabolic function shape critical cellular behaviors, including cell migration, tumor proliferation, metastasis, and response to therapy. Dr. Cunniff’s team is also developing novel therapeutic strategies for aggressive cancers such as malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and metastatic peritoneal malignancies. Through a combination of cell-based experiments and animal models, his lab investigates the metabolic vulnerabilities of tumor cells to identify compounds that target mitochondrial function—an approach with promising potential for difficult‑to‑treat cancers. 

Launching a New Cancer Treatment 

In addition to its foundational research, the Cunniff Lab partners with RS Oncology, a biotechnology company developing a novel therapy that targets mitochondria for the treatment of mesothelioma, a particularly aggressive form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure. The lab, located at UVM Cancer Center, supports all basic science and translational research associated with this clinical program, helping define mechanisms of action, treatment response, and biomarkers of efficacy. 

This work has contributed to the advancement of a promising new therapy, RSO-021, that recently completed Phase 2 clinical trials (NCT05278975), marking a major milestone in the pursuit of more effective treatments for this historically under‑treated cancer.  
 
“This award provides the stability and resources needed to pursue innovative ideas that don’t always fit into traditional funding mechanisms. I’m grateful for the Juckett Foundation’s commitment to advancing cancer research and for UVM Cancer Center’s support of our work to develop new treatments for aggressive cancers.” 

UVM Cancer Center Director Randall Holcombe, M.D., M.B.A. emphasized that Dr. Cunniff embodies the excellence the Juckett Faculty Scholar award intends to highlight. 

“This award recognizes both Dr. Cunniff’s impressive accomplishments and his tremendous promise for transformative future discoveries. His work epitomizes the kind of high‑impact research that strengthens  UVM Cancer Center’s mission to improve cancer care for Vermonters and beyond.” 

About the Juckett Faculty Scholar Award

The Juckett Faculty Scholar award is designed to bolster the impact of UVM Cancer Center’s most accomplished investigators. By providing a mix of salary and flexible research support, the award fosters innovation, accelerates discovery, and strengthens the center’s scientific infrastructure. The program reflects the longstanding partnership between UVM Cancer Center and the J. Walter Juckett Foundation, an organization committed to improving health and advancing cancer research in the region. Awardees must be full-time University of Vermont faculty and active contributors to UVM Cancer Center’s scientific community. The Juckett Faculty Scholar is selected by the UVM Cancer Center director, in collaboration with representatives of the J. Walter Juckett Foundation board of directors. The award provides $150,000 per year for two years in research support, with funding beginning January 1, 2026.