Cancer Cell Biology Training Program

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Abstract This application seeks the continuation of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)'s longstanding and highly successful Cancer Cell Biology Training Program (CCBTP), the flagship and sole predoctoral-only cancer-focused T32 of UNC's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. CCBTP is now in its 25th year. As we always have more highly qualified applicants than we can accommodate, we request renewed support for all six predoctoral training slots. The premise of CCTBP is that the biology of cancer cells is an interdisciplinary biomedical science encompassing experimental approaches and didactic knowledge from diverse fields. The CCBTP mission is to train the next generation of basic and translational cancer biologists, preparing them to contribute in both academic and non-academic careers. As a non degree-granting program, CCBTP provides trainees with unique opportunities beyond their departmental requirements and offerings. In this renewal application, CCBTP seeks to build on past success, while also recognizing that the landscape of cancer research and training has entered a new era of very dynamic change. Precision medicine and the genomic era of big data in cancer research continue to evolve at warp speed. Dramatic improvements in technology have enabled increased understanding of the contributions of single cells to specific populations, and to the interactions of cancer cells with their tumor microenvironment of stromal and immune cells. To keep the CCBTP program fresh and to best address the needs of future cancer biology trainees, we have critically evaluated the program and remodeled some aspects to keep abreast of this changing landscape. Our refreshed program thus includes a revised core course on cancer pathobiology and signaling, a new core course developed specifically for CCBTP on cancer immunology and the tumor microenvironment, and our unique experiential course on targeted cancer therapeutics. In the past cycle, CCBTP added novel interactions with faculty mentors, improved the diversity pipeline, and obtained enhanced institutional support. We continue to build on all of these improvements. Going forward, in addition to continued emphasis on both basic and translational cancer biology, trainees have new opportunities to develop and utilize their knowledge of state-of-the-art methodologies to profile and dissect the cancer genome, kinome and proteome; to become familiar with bioinformatics and computational biology; to engage with the rapidly emerging areas of immunotherapy and the tumor microenvironment; to understand and apply the most appropriate and useful model systems to study cancer biology; to enhance the rigor and reproducibility of their research; and to engage thoughtfully with the larger world outside their own labs and institution. CCBTP trainees describe their community as one of the most important and valuable aspects of their predoctoral training. The CCBTP serves a vital role in our mission of training to support the pipeline of future cancer biologists, preparing them to accelerate progress in the understanding and treatment of cancer.