Training Program for Quantitative Population Sciences in Cancer

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Modern biomedical research relies on both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to advance our understanding of complex and multifaceted illnesses of growing public health significance such as cancer. Emerging technologies will enable population scientists to generate data on a scale never before imaginable (i.e., through whole genome array scans). Thus, there is a critical need to not only train the next generation of scientists in the classic disciplines involved in studies of human malignancies, but to cross-train them in complementary disciplines to enable them to bring their scientific discoveries to light. Therefore, we propose a postdoctoral program that combines specialized research knowledge and methodologies in the fields of bioinformatics, biostatistics and epidemiology. This novel program, entitled "Training Program for Quantitative Population Sciences in Cancer," will be structured to complement the existing resources for cancer research and education at Dartmouth Medical School (DMS) and will be aligned with the mission of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC), an NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center affiliated with Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC). The training efforts will be led by established investigators in the fields of bioinformatics, biostatistics and epidemiology within the Departments of Genetics and Community and Family Medicine/Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. To accomplish our objectives, we propose to cross-train six postdoctoral trainees in epidemiology, bioinformatics or biostatistics for a period of 2 to 3 years. Trainees will complete cross-disciplinary coursework in the first year of the program and will be paired with a primary and secondary mentor from two of the focus disciplines. In years two and three of the program, trainees will concentrate on the conduct of mentored research activities, prepare a mock NIH grant application and participate in the preparation of professional manuscripts and presentations at seminars and scientific conferences. An Advisory Committee composed of the leaders and mentors of the proposed disciplines will select trainees, monitor their progress and provide recommendations to ensure that the necessary didactic and research experiences are provided to produce highly knowledgeable investigators for the future of interdisciplinary cancer research in the population sciences. The ultimate goal of the training program is to accelerate cancer research by enhancing the existing pool of cancer researchers with the skills needed to meet the present and future needs in translational cancer research in the population sciences.