Preparing cancer researchers with a 21st century skill set

摘要 随着尖端技术和算法的发展，如下一代测序耦合 通过生物信息学可以分析来自数千名患者的大量数据，我们的理解 对癌症疾病过程的研究，包括分子发病机制，正在变得越来越全面和 很详细。新的高效治疗方法的出现，如免疫疗法和特定的小细胞 分子抑制剂，再加上有助于早期诊断和监测的创新成像技术，是 现在转化为对患者生存和预后的重大积极影响。下一代癌症 研究人员现在不仅需要了解基本的癌症生物学，还必须掌握翻译 应用以实验室为基础的发现，并适当使用生物信息学分析。总目标 癌症翻译培训的重点应该是广泛地教育学员在不同的团队中工作，整合 基础研究、以患者为中心的研究和以人群为基础的研究，长期目标是推进 公共卫生。此外，研究人员还需要参与到社区中来教育 并更好地了解他们的研究工作的影响，并获得指导下一代的经验 科学家的身份。虽然不可能每个癌症研究人员都成为基础癌症生物学方面的专家， 翻译方法、生物信息学和社区参与，对受训者来说很重要 接触到癌症研究的所有这些重要方面，使他们能够在 这些不同的学科。学生重视在临床和社区环境中参与的体验， 提供工具和经验来构思和开发基于实验室的相关性的临床试验。这个 VCU癌症和分子医学(CAMM)博士学位课程已量身定做，以提供博士和MD- 博士生接受过基础癌症和分子生物学方面的培训，重点是翻译 培训的应用。目前的R25应用程序旨在扩展和加强这一点 课程包含从头开始的组成部分，即转化的临床和社区参与以及 可重复的癌症生物信息学，提供全面的培训。这一独特的组合将为 拥有全面知识和经验的研究生，从而促进 建立一个成功的职业生涯，成为一名能够进行翻译科学的癌症研究人员。这 全面的课程可以传播给专注于翻译的研究生课程并被其采用 癌症研究。

SUMMARY With the development of cutting-edge technology and algorithms, such as next generation sequencing coupled with bioinformatics that allow analyses of vast amounts of data from thousands of patients, our understanding of the cancer disease process, including molecular pathogenesis, is becoming more comprehensive and detailed. The advent of new lines of highly effective therapies, such as immunotherapy and specific small molecule inhibitors, coupled with innovative techniques of imaging facilitating early diagnosis and monitoring, is now translating to significant positive impact on patient survival and prognosis. The next generation of cancer researchers now need not only to understand basic cancer biology but also must grasp the translational applications of laboratory-based findings, and the appropriate use of bioinformatics analyses. The overall goal of translational training in cancer should be to broadly educate trainees to work in diverse teams integrating basic research, patient-oriented research, and population-based research, with the long-term aim of advancing public health. In addition, the researchers also need to be involved in engaging with the community to educate and better understand the impact of their research work and obtain experience mentoring the next generation of scientists. Although it is not possible for every cancer researcher to be an expert in basic cancer biology, translational approaches, bioinformatics, and community engagement, it is important for trainees to be exposed to all of these important aspects of cancer research, to allow them to communicate with colleagues in these various disciplines. Students value experiences that engage them in clinical and community settings, providing the tools and experience to conceive and develop a clinical trial with laboratory-based correlates. The VCU Cancer and Molecular Medicine (CAMM) PhD concentration has been tailored to provide PhD and MD- PhD students with training in basic cancer and molecular biology, with a strong emphasis on the translational applications of the training. The present R25 application is aimed at extending and strengthening this curriculum with de novo components, namely translational clinical and community engagement and reproducible cancer bioinformatics, to provide well-rounded training. This unique combination will equip graduate students with a comprehensive breadth of knowledge and experience, thereby facilitating establishment of a successful career as a cancer researcher who is able to conduct translational science. This comprehensive curriculum can be disseminated to and adopted by graduate programs focused on translational cancer research.