Cancer Biology Training Program

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Project Summary We request a further five years of funding for our T32 to support broad-based, interdepartmental pre- and postdoctoral training in cancer biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSA), a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. In this next funding period (years 11-15), we request 3 predoctoral slots and 3 postdoctoral slots. Our Cancer Biology Training Program is the only NCI-funded T32 at UTHSA. We provide intensive and rigorous training in cancer research and discovery under the tutelage of seasoned preceptors and professional development opportunities to highly motivated graduate students and postdoctoral research fellows, especially those from groups underrepresented (UR) in biomedical research. Since this T32 was first awarded in August 2011, all trainee positions (1 predoctoral and 3 postdoctoral in each award year) have been filled, and trainees have been highly productive. To date, 7 predoctoral students and 15 postdoctoral fellows have been appointed as T32 trainees, and 41% (2 predocs and 7 postdocs) are URs. The Training Program will continue to be directed by the same Director and Co-Director, enhanced by a new Co- Director, and overseen by a seasoned Executive Committee. The training faculty is diverse, with 19 full professors and 5 associate professors, and 7 assistant professors as Co-Mentors, from 9 departments. All training faculty have full faculty privileges in the Graduate School and our NCI-designated Mays Cancer Center (MCC). Our training faculty are highly interactive with numerous collaborative publications, have strong funded research portfolios (average direct costs >$870K per mentor in the current year), and are experienced and successful in mentoring predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees. Many new Training Program-specific activities leverage growing basic, translational and clinical cancer research opportunities (especially at the MCC) in bioinformatics, drug development, and cutting-edge shared resources. Annual Retreats and bi-monthly Trainees’ Luncheons will allow trainees to showcase their research advances and interact with the Program Co-Directors, the training faculty, the External Advisory Board, and other trainees, including those who have completed training. The curriculum also includes training in scientific communication and a strong base in responsible conduct of research as well as rigor and reproducibility. Trainees will be selected for their academic accomplishments and their dedication to cancer research and will be appointed for 2 years. There is substantial institutional commitment to this Training Program, e.g. salary support for the Program Director, and matching support from the MCC for a fourth predoctoral trainee. Our Cancer Biology Training Program seeks this continuation to continue its contribution to diversity in the next generation of independent investigators working to accomplish NCI’s goal of improving cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.