The Nathan Schnaper Intern Program in Translational Cancer Research

 描述(由申请人提供)：癌症相关的发病率和死亡率是美国和世界范围内的主要健康问题。深入的研究促进了我们对这种疾病的理解，并强调了实验室和临床在癌症检测和治疗中的关键关系。在这方面继续取得进展需要有抱负的科学家和临床医生在接受教育的早期阶段接触癌症生物学领域。为此，马里兰大学格林鲍姆癌症中心(UMGCC)的Nathan Schnaper癌症研究实习生项目(NSIP)在向本科生介绍基础、转化性和临床癌症研究方面有着悠久的历史。NSIP实习生录取MD和PhD项目并对癌症生物学领域做出贡献的比例很高，这证明了该项目的成功。我们建议在强有力的机构支持下，通过创新的短期研究、教育和临床经验来扩大NSIP。NSIP的目标是通过为期十周的暑期实习来提供这种培训，强调将实验室发现转化为临床应用。这一经历将激励本科生在与癌症的斗争中追求职业生涯，并通过四个具体目标帮助填补该领域对熟练内科科学家的需求。1)提供实践癌症研究、癌症生物学教育和接触临床肿瘤学的综合课程。实验室技术课程为实习生在癌症生物学不同领域的指导研究做好准备。研究结果在实习生静修和研讨会上公布。新颖的教育模块突出了UMGCC的转化性癌症研究，并将研究、教学和临床经验联系起来，以提供这种从床到床的研究连续体的广阔前景。实习生通过跟踪UMGCC临床医生接触到临床肿瘤学。2)从地方和国家本科院校招收对癌症研究有兴趣的有才华的学生。每年暑假将根据学习成绩、推荐信和一份个人陈述来挑选20名实习生。为了促进少数民族参与，并为没有本科研究课程的院校的学生提供培训机会，我们将扩大与当地大学的联系，扩大我们的全国形象。将提供生活支持和低成本住房，以增强实习生的经济、种族和地理多样性。3)通过实习生、导师、顾问和咨询委员会的评估，对NSIP的每个组成部分进行批判性评估。与过去的实习生保持联系，以跟踪他们的职业道路并培养人际关系。4)通过在地方和国家会议上的书面和口头陈述，传播关于NSIP培训的信息。NSIP的招聘信息通过电子邮件、网站、社交媒体和面对面的会议传达给未来的实习生和本科生导师。UMGCC强大的资源和NSIP培训组成部分共同构成了一个创新计划，以激励和教育下一代癌症研究人员和临床肿瘤学家。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cancer-associated morbidity and mortality are major health concerns in the US and worldwide. Intensive research has advanced our understanding of this disease and highlighted the critical relationship between the laboratory and the clinic in cancer detection and treatment. Continued progress on this front requires the exposure of aspiring scientists and clinicians to the field of cancer biology at an early stage of their education. To this end, the Nathan Schnaper Intern Program in cancer research (NSIP) at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center (UMGCC) has a long history of introducing undergraduate students to basic, translational and clinical cancer research. The program's success is evidenced by the high percentage of NSIP interns that matriculate to MD and PhD programs and contribute to the field of cancer biology. We propose to expand the NSIP through innovative short-term research, educational and clinical experiences developed with strong institutional support. The goal of the NSIP is to provide this training through a ten-week summer internship that emphasizes the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical applications. This experience will inspire undergraduate students to pursue careers in the battle against cancer and help fill the need for skilled physician-scientists in this field through four Specific Aims. 1) Provide an integrated program of hands-on cancer research, education in cancer biology and exposure to clinical oncology. A course in laboratory techniques prepares the interns for mentored research in diverse areas of cancer biology. Results are presented in an intern retreat and a symposium. Novel educational modules highlight translational cancer research at the UMGCC and link research, didactic and clinical experiences to provide a broad perspective of this bench-to-bedside-and-back research continuum. Interns are exposed to clinical oncology through shadowing UMGCC clinicians. 2) Recruit talented students with an interest in cancer research from local and national undergraduate institutions. Twenty interns per summer will be selected based on academic performance, references and a personal statement. To promote minority participation and provide training opportunities for students at institutions that lack undergraduate research programs, we will expand affiliations with local colleges and broaden our national profile. Subsistence support and low-cost housing will be provided to enhance economic, racial, and geographic diversity among interns. 3) Critically evaluate each component of the NSIP through intern, mentor, consultant and Advisory Board assessments. Contact with past interns is maintained to track their professional paths and foster networking. 4) Disseminate information on NSIP training via written and oral presentations at local and national meetings. NSIP recruitment information is communicated to prospective interns and undergraduate advisors by email, website, social media, and in- person meetings. Together, strong UMGCC resources and NSIP training components comprise an innovative program to inspire and educate the next generation of cancer researchers and clinical oncologists.