A Training Program for Interdisciplinary Cancer Research

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Support is requested to continue a successful cancer research training program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). This newly renamed Training Program for Interdisciplinary Cancer Research (IDCR) builds on a foundation of more than 40 years of experience developing PhD students and postdoctoral fellows to become scientific leaders. As the nature of cancer research and treatment have evolved, so has the focus of our training program. We emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to advance knowledge in cancer biology and treatment, offering trainees a highly collaborative environment that includes faculty mentors from five different Schools at UCI. Coursework emphasizes critical analysis of research literature in cancer and related disciplines, the most current research methods, and a focus on translational science such as the development of therapeutics and diagnostics. The scientific foundation we provide together with professional development activities offered will produce a cohort of well-trained experts armed to successfully attack the cancer problem from vantage points in both academia and industry. The Program benefits from outstanding institutional support from the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (a NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center), the UCI Cancer Research Institute, Graduate Division, and other campus offices. The Program provides research opportunities across the cancer continuum from etiology to therapeutics, encompassing faculty from the Schools of Biological Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering. There are thirty training faculty, each with a cancer-focused research program and extramural funding. We request support for four postdoctoral and four predoctoral trainees; one additional predoctoral position will be supported by our Graduate Division. The Program is led two co-Directors, both senior faculty with outstanding records of research productivity and training, and a history of collaboration. In preparation for this renewal application, we have carried out a rigorous self-evaluation with input from trainees, faculty, and externaladvisors. This process has led us to implement a revised program that meets the specific needs of current UCI trainees. A continuing element of the Program will be a rigorous and well-defined set of courses (“Cancer Biology parts A and B”, "Clinical Cancer for Basic Scientists") that build knowledge about basic and clinical/translational cancer research. Other strong components that will continue are the biannual program retreat, the annual symposium in basic cancer research, and access to exceptional professional development opportunities (established under a NIH-BEST award and continuing with campus support). A fundamental change will be to redesign our journal clubs and research-in-progress talks to maximize interaction with diverse training faculty and expand active learning of interdisciplinary cancer research approaches. We will also implement several changes in program administration to increase faculty participation and to optimize mentoring, evaluation, and recruitment.