Training Program for Quantitative Population Sciences in Cancer

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Modern biomedical research relies on new approaches to advance our understanding of complex and multifaceted illnesses of growing public health significance such as cancer. Emerging technologies 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 allow them to bring their scientific discoveries to light. Therefore, we propose to continue a highly successful 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,” is structured to complement the existing resources for cancer research and education at the Geisel School of Medicine and the Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC), an NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center affiliated with the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC). Our training efforts will continue to be led by investigators with complementary expertise in the fields of bioinformatics, biostatistics and epidemiology primarily within the Departments of Biomedical Data Science, Epidemiology and Molecular and Systems Biology. We will capitalize on Dartmouth’s talented cadre faculty in these disciplines who can offer expert mentorship, and a versatile portfolio of research and center grants that can supply access to a wealth of population science data, biologic samples and core research facilities. To accomplish our objectives, we propose to cross-train eight postdoctoral trainees in epidemiology, bioinformatics or biostatistics for a period of 2 to 3 years. Trainees will be paired with a primary and secondary mentor from two of the focus disciplines and complete cross- disciplinary coursework with an optional MS degree in Quantitative Biomedical Sciences. 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, presentations at symposia and scientific conferences and an optional research externship. Program leaders, in consultation with an Advisory Committee, 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 to meet the present and future challenges in translational cancer research in the population sciences.