T32 Training Program in Cancer Biology

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PROJECT SUMMARY Advances in our understanding of the biology of cancer have the potential to lead to significant breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis and treatment; however, the translation of basic science discoveries to clinical advancement has been impaired by the dichotomous training of basic scientists and clinicians. Thus, there is a compelling need for an enhanced mentored research training program that will bridge the gap between training in rigorous scientific investigation following the scientific method and compassionate clinical care for the patient. We propose a Training Program in Cancer Biology that will take advantage of the outstanding resources, high caliber of investigators, and close collaboration between cancer biologists and clinicians at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Georgia’s first and only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, to provide a unique, individualized, and multi-faceted training experience to support the development of postdoctoral trainees in acquiring the knowledge and skills to address the most important biological questions and clinically significant problems so that they can make transformative discoveries to improve quality of care for patients with cancer. The objective of the Emory Training Program in Cancer Biology is to provide postdoctoral trainees with the infrastructure, resources, training, experience, and mentorship to acquire the depth of knowledge and critical skills in cancer biology research combined with the practical exposure and understanding of clinical concepts to initiate an impactful independent research program that will translate novel insights in cancer biology into improvements in clinical care. Aims of the training program include: 1) Organized research training, 2) Comprehensive formal and informal didactics, 3) Clinical exposure through tumor boards and clinics, 4) Career development activities, and 5) Plan for transition to independence. The program will train two new postdoctoral trainees in the first year followed by an additional two trainees in the second year for a total of four trainees per year by the second year. Postdoctoral trainees will be rigorously selected from an exceptionally strong and broad applicant pool of PhD and/or MDs within the first two years of their postdoctoral training and will complete 12-24 months of full-time mentored research. Trainees will have the opportunity to engage in independent research in the labs of a multidisciplinary group of 22 well-funded and experienced Mentors and junior Mentors paired with a senior co-Mentor from 10 basic science and clinical departments who are all full members of three complementary and synergistic research programs of the Winship Cancer Institute: 1) Cell and Molecular Biology, 2) Cancer Immunology, and 3) Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics. All trainees will be required to form a Mentoring Committee with at least one clinical mentor. Outstanding institutional commitment and focus on inclusive excellence includes support for an additional postdoctoral trainee position per year for the recruitment of an underrepresented trainee, salary support for the PI, administrators, and trainees, and Office of Postdoctoral Education resources. This program intends to train the next generation of cancer scientific leaders.