Career Enhancement Program

University Of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section: Career Enhancement Program An increase in the number of investigators who possess the research knowledge and training from the bench to the bedside is essential to our overarching goal of advancing translational research in head and neck cancer (HNC). This Career Enhancement Program (CEP) provides an outstanding structure and mechanism to cultivate the development of solid research careers for junior and mid-level faculty who strive to focus their careers on translational HNC research. The specific aim of the CEP is to provide scientists with essential training and career enhancement support to encourage the development of successful, independently funded translational research programs in the area of HNC. Our goal is to produce HNC scientists, including physician-scientists, who will meet the great need for innovation in methods to prevent and treat these devastating malignancies. The CEP will support up to three awardees at any given time. Awardees will receive up to $50,000 per year for up to two years to support their research career enhancement activities in the area of HNC. The program has strong leadership, a wealth of expertise and resources, the option to embark on individualized clinical and scientific curricula, a strong pool of exceptional mentors, and well-defined processes for recruitment and assessment. The program will continue to foster the development of knowledge, skills, professional attitudes, and experience required for successful academic careers in HNC translational research. The past/current CEP award recipients have been highly successful in securing competitive extramural (NIH/DOD, n=10 grants) and intramural (n=7) grants. Modified Specific Aims Section: Career Enhancement Program The Career Enhancement Program (CEP) of the Wisconsin Head and Neck (HN) SPORE represents an essential component of this SPORE’s overarching goal to advance translational research in HN oncology. Intensifying translational research requires expansion of the pool of independent investigators who possess the knowledge and training to cross effortlessly between bench and bedside research. Because the University of Wisconsin offers an environment with a wealth of expertise and resources to train the next generation of HNC translational scientists, the CEP within this HN SPORE provides an outstanding structure and mechanism to cultivate the development of solid research careers for junior and midlevel faculty who will focus their careers towards translational research in HNC. The program will foster the development of knowledge, skills, professional attitudes, and experience required for successful academic careers in HNC translational research. The specific aim of the CEP is to provide scientists with essential training and career enhancement support such that they develop into successful, independently funded translational researchers and leaders in the field of HNC. Our goal is to produce HNC scientists, including physician-scientists, who will meet the great need for innovative strategies to prevent and treat these devastating malignancies. Achievement of this aim will revolve around the continuation of our already successful career enhancement award mechanisms. The program will recruit junior and midlevel faculty and provide them with exceptional mentors, as well as an option for customized clinical and scientific curricula to acquire essential knowledge to succeed in the field. The Career Enhancement Program includes: • A track record of strong mentors • Identification and targeted marketing/promotion of the program for the recruitment of awardees • An established online application process • A proven application review and selection process • An established mechanism for consistent progress reporting and assessment of awardees • Strong oversight of program funds, including matching institutional funds • Mentoring plans that emphasize the importance of future extramural grant applications to CEP awardees’ future career development. Modified