UM Calabresi Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Award

University Of Miami School Of Medicine, Coral Gables FL

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The University of Miami (UM) Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC) K12 Calabresi Clinical Oncology Research Career Development program is designed to formalize a structured path to independent translational science that, at the core, is a strong foundation for clinical trial development and implementation that is intended to culminate in impactful changes in oncology patient management. Over the initial period of the grant, the SCCC achieved NCI designation and has committed significant resources to building and sustaining robust academic physician faculty recruitment and mentorship programs that are tied to strategic enhancement of the candidate pool for the K12 physician-scientist program. Candidate physician-scientists are recruited from all cancer related specialties. Department and Division chiefs at UM have promoted the program to incoming faculty completing their fellowships and residencies, and existing junior faculty within 5 years of completion of fellowship training. Scholars include those who recently completed postgraduate training in a subspecialty oncology program: pediatric, urologic, radiation, surgical, hematology (liquid tumors), medical (solid tumors), cell transplant, head and neck, ophthalmologic, and gynecologic oncology. Of the 10 scholars who have entered, 4 are from hematology, 2 are from medical oncology, and 1 each are from surgical oncology, cell transplantation, urology, and radiation oncology. The PI of the K12 program is a radiation oncologist physician-scientist who has been the PI of phase I, II, and III trials and mentored numerous students, trainees, and faculty in translational research and clinical trial advancement. He organizes the K12 Design and Management of Clinical Trials course (CTC), which serves as a cornerstone of the curriculum. The K12 CTC has evolved into an inter-institutional course designed to enhance exposure of and recruitment into the K12 Program. There are two Associate Directors including (i) a medical oncologist (Jaime Merchan, MD) who leads the SCCC Phase I Program (the only such program in South Florida) and who oversees the homework portion of the CTC, wherein scholars and other invited faculty and fellows have their clinical trial concepts developed and critiqued; and (ii) a population scientist (Erin Kobetz, PhD, MPH) who is Associate Director of Population Sciences and Cancer Disparity in SCCC. Dr. Kobetz oversees the link between the scholars and community/patient advocates. The Internal and External Advisory, Executive, and Curriculum Committees provide feedback and are attuned to the need to recruit the most qualified applicants proposing exceptionally promising projects for impactful translational research. Based on feedback from the committees and scholars, revisions are being made to the core curriculum and Master of Science program run in collaboration with the UM Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). The collaboration with the CTSI KL2/K12 program at UM has been formalized with cross committee participation, a joint application process, and standardized review criteria to optimize these complementary and independent programs.