Interim Associate Director, Administration - Carolyn Passaglia, MSRC

The Associate Director for Administration is appointed by and reports to the director of the Lurie Cancer Center. In this role, Carolyn Passaglia, MSRC, provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the cancer center’s administrative infrastructure, supporting its scientific programs, shared resources, clinical research, community engagement, and education initiatives.

Previously, Passaglia served as Senior Director of Lurie Cancer Center’s Clinical Trials Office (CTO), where she led initiatives to expand and streamline the clinical research enterprise across the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Care Network. Under her leadership, the CTO strengthened regulatory compliance, improved activation timelines, and significantly increased clinical trial accruals—particularly through integration with network sites across Lurie Cancer Center's catchment area.

With over 15 years of experience in academic medical administration, Passaglia has been instrumental in advancing the cancer center’s mission by fostering collaboration among investigators, enhancing operational efficiency, and aligning institutional priorities with national standards. Her work has contributed to Lurie Cancer Center’s continued scientific leadership as an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Passaglia holds a Master of Science in Regulatory Compliance (MSRC) from Northwestern University and brings a deep commitment to innovation, increasing access to leading-edge cancer care, and the translation of science into improved patient outcomes.