Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination

Research Inst Of Fox Chase Can Ctr, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – CANCER RESEARCH TRAINING AND EDUCATION COORDINATION The mission of the Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) Cancer Research, Training, and Education Coordination (CRTEC) is to cultivate an inclusive, highly skilled cancer workforce by providing mentoring, immersive courses, career pathway guidance, and individualized support across the cancer career continuum. The FCCC CRTEC has three aims: 1) Develop innovative programs that encourage high school and undergraduate students to explore careers in cancer research, with a particular focus on underrepresented minority (URM) populations; 2) Coordinate and enhance cancer research education for diverse post-graduate research and clinical trainees and equip them with the skills needed to succeed in cancer research and medicine; and 3) Provide tailored and measurable mentoring for Cancer Center faculty, and tools to promote retention of URM groups in cancer research-focused careers. In support of these aims, CRTEC has contributed to over $1.4M in training grants (direct costs). New and enhanced efforts over the last funding period include: 1) NCI funding of an R25 educational grant to provide intensive training to selected college students from primarily URM backgrounds, and likely funding of a perfectly scored R25 to empower early career oncologists to effectively address patient sexual health in their practice; 2) funding of two new T32 training grants (NCI and NIGMS), and successful renewal of our existing NCI U54; 3) creation of designated postdoctoral fellowships for trainees from URM populations; 4) development of a philanthropy-supported medical student summer internship program; 5) establishment of a fund to incentivize and support translational pilot research by clinical residents and fellows; 6) introduction of new bioinformatics and genomics courses; 7) creation of a speaker series to expose undergraduate and high school interns to diverse cancer-focused career paths; 8) implementation of an innovative URM faculty recruitment and mentoring strategy; and 9) establishment of a new pathway to embed clinical scientists in research laboratories. To maximize the service of the CRTEC to our diverse education/training cohort and community, our programs are aligned with the FCCC Strategic Plan, and fully integrated with the COE and PED teams. Moreover, institutional funding of two FCCC-funded FTEs in the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) allows us to: a) deepen the CRTEC impact on students in our catchment area; b) bolster efforts to improve trainee diversity, recruitment, relocation, and onboarding; and c) achieve further enhancements in tracking of metrics of success. Since the last review, FCCC has provided training, education, and career guidance to 231 high school students and undergraduates, 279 PhD, MD, and MD/PhD students, 250 postdoctoral and clinical fellows, and more than 100 early career faculty. The value of these efforts is reflected by the outstanding retention of training alumni in cancer research: 98% of high school alumni choose STEM-based majors; 64% of undergraduate alumni go on to further education in science and medicine, and 95% of graduate student and 93% postdoctoral alumni remain engaged in cancer research.