Christian Capitini, MD, professor and chief of the Division of Hematology, Oncology, Transplant, and Cellular Therapy, was named director of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center as well as director of UW Health Cancer Services. Capitini will be the first pediatric oncologist to lead the cancer center since its founding in 1973. Capitini has served as acting director of the center since December 2024. He will assume his new role on April 19.
Since joining the department faculty in 2011, Capitini and his research group have been developing innovative cancer treatments for both adults and children. Capitini has had continuous National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding for more than a decade, focusing on laboratory research of cell-based immunotherapies, such as NK cells and CAR T-cells, for the treatment of high-risk childhood cancers. These include treatment of immune-related adverse events such as graft-versus-host-disease and other precision medicine innovations.
Carbone is one of 57 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers, with more than 400 researchers, physicians, and educators from across the university working to eliminate the burden of cancer in the state and beyond. Carbone currently holds an “outstanding” rating from NCI: it is in the top 10% of all NCI-designated cancer centers in the country. The center’s physicians care for more than 33,000 patients annually, and the organization currently supports 250 active clinical trials examining diverse questions regarding cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.
Because of his new role, Capitini will be unable to continue serving as the division chief of Hematology, Oncology, Transplant, and Cellular Therapy. Cathy Lee-Miller, MD, associate professor, current associate division chief, and fellowship director for the division, will serve as interim chief of the division. The department will initiate a search for a new division chief soon.
The UW School of Medicine and Public Health published “Christian Capitini named director of the UW Carbone Cancer Center” on April 1, 2026.