Postdoctoral Research Training in Biotherapy of Cancer

描述(由申请者提供)：该博士后培训计划旨在培训外科住院医师和研究员与肿瘤学和癌症生物治疗相关的基础科学研究。在过去的几十年里，细胞生物学、肿瘤免疫学和人类遗传学的进步使治疗癌症的第一批有效的生物疗法得以发展。匹兹堡大学癌症研究所(UPCI)和外科肿瘤科在这些领域做出了重大承诺，开展了广泛的临床前和临床研究计划。最近增加的希尔曼癌症中心同时拥有UPCI研究展馆和库珀癌症展馆，这进一步表明了基础学科和临床学科之间广泛整合的承诺。因此，培训一批高素质的个人，他们可以担任学术外科医生的领导角色，并推动将基础研究转化为临床癌症治疗，这是外科肿瘤科确定的使命，也是本计划提案的最终目标。受训人员可选择癌症生物疗法的五个主要研究领域：1)免疫疗法，2)细胞因子疗法，3)基因疗法，4)靶向分子疗法，以及5)基因组学和蛋白质组学。每名受训者将参与为期两年的密集指导实验室研究，由一名来自这五个重点学科之一的成熟和资助的实验室科学家参与。受训者和导师每周将进行一对一的会面。除了密集的实验室经验外，学员还将参加一些正式课程、研讨会项目和期刊俱乐部。一个行政委员会监督和评估受训人员的进展情况以及教员的活动。在培训期结束时，受训者将获得必要的技能，以成熟为独立的研究人员，以弥合差距并推动将基础研究转化为临床终点。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This postdoctoral training program is a proposal for training surgical residents and fellows in basic science research relevant to oncology and the biological therapy of cancer. Over the past few decades, advances in cell biology, tumor immunology and human genetics have permitted the development of the first efficacious biotherapies in the treatment of cancer. The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) and the Division of Surgical Oncology have made a major commitment in these areas with extensive preclinical and clinical research programs. The recent addition of the Hillman Cancer Center housing both the UPCI Research Pavilion and the Cooper Cancer Pavilion further demonstrates the commitment for a broad integration between the basic and clinical disciplines. As such, the training of a diverse group of highly qualified individuals who can assume leadership roles as academic surgeons and drive the translation of basic research into clinical cancer therapy is an identified mission of the Division of Surgical Oncology and the ultimate goal of this program proposal. Five major areas of research focus within cancer biotherapy are available for the trainees: 1) Immunotherapy, 2) Cytokine Therapy, 3) Gene Therapy, 4) Targeted Molecular Therapy, and 5) Genomics and Proteomics. Each trainee will be involved in intensive mentored laboratory research for two years with an established and funded laboratory scientist from one of these five focused disciplines. The trainee and the preceptor will meet one-on-one on a weekly basis. In addition to the intensive laboratory experience, the trainee will also participate in a number of formal courses, seminar programs, and journal clubs. The trainee's progress, as well as, the preceptor's activities are monitored and evaluated by an Administrative Committee. At the conclusion of the training period, the trainees will have gained skills necessary for the maturation into independent investigators to bridge the gap and drive the translation of basic research into clinical endpoints.