Cancer Immunology Training Program

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PROJECT SUMMARY Interest in cancer immunology has never been more intense. Breakthrough observations with inhibitory receptor blockade, combined with ground breaking advances in the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cell adoptive therapies have highlighted the critical need to further basic and translation research in cancer immunology. While the pipeline of potential immunotherapeutic targets is growing, the pipeline of future cancer immunologists is limited, in part due to significant demand in industry and academia. There is a critical need for training programs that optimally prepare the next generation of cancer immunologists. Surprisingly, our Cancer Immunology Training Program (CITP) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM) is one of only six NCI-supported T32s nationwide that focus entirely on cancer immunology. This makes our program unique and essential. CITP, which has 5 pre- and 3 post-doctoral slots, is in its 20th year and we are seeking support for the next five years. The goals of the CITP are to provide graduate students, fellows and physician scientists with courses, research projects, exceptional environment and resources, and highly-qualified mentors that will allow them to: (1) make a significant contribution to one of five areas of research focus covered by this training program: (a) Inhibitory Mechanisms in the Tumor Microenvironment (TME), (b) Adaptive Immunity and Cellular Interactions within the TME, (c) Innate, Environmental and Metabolic Modulation, (d) Promoting Immune Responses to Tumors: Cell-Based Therapies & Vaccines, and (e) Systems Cancer Immunology; (2) gain a clear understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms relevant to cancer immunology; (3) obtain a practical understanding of the immunology of human cancer; (4) gain a clear conceptual understanding of all areas that impact cancer immunology; and (5) develop critical career skills and managerial ability. Building thoughtfully on what is a proven training program, we have made several enhancements, such as increasing the cancer immunology-focus of our faculty (25 total). UPSOM and HCC have and continue to make an unprecedented investment in cancer immunology. The training program exploits particular strengths at UPSOM, including an exceptional NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, a strong immuno-centric translational research base, an outstanding Immunology Department that underpins strong basic research, and our graduate research program (PMI). UPSOM has implemented effective programs to ensure outstanding training, with emphasis on increasing the recruitment and retention of women and URMs. Our applicant pool is exceptional due to the success of our PMI and MSTP graduate programs, highly sought-after clinical fellowships, and outstanding mentor pool. Over the last 5 years, CITP has enrolled 24 trainees (Pre – 15; Post – 9), of which 13 were women (54%) and 3 were URM (12.5%). Lastly, our trainees have been extremely successful in obtaining extramural/competitive fellowships (14 total [58%]: F99/K00 [1], F32 [3], F31 [4], F30 [3], Damon-Runyon [1], St. Baldrick's [1], Hartwell [1]). We are excited and eager to train the next generation of cancer immunologists.