Career Enhancement Program

University Of Michigan At Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor MI

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The evolution of prostate cancer research is highly dependent on the addition of new investigators with fresh, innovative concepts to advance the field. In recognition of the need to help establish independently funded investigators in the field of translational prostate cancer research, the Michigan Prostate SPORE has supported two to three early-stage investigators per year through the Career Enhancement Program (CEP). The focus of the CEP is to provide investigators with the resources to generate preliminary data for subsequent NIH R01 grant applications or future SPORE projects. The Michigan Prostate SPORE commits $50,000 annually per investigator. Career Enhancement awardees are funded for a maximum of two years, subject to annual review. The University of Michigan (U-M) awardees’ departments supply another $10,000 per year in matching funds. Investigators, many of whom are outside the field of prostate cancer, are expected to meet quarterly with the Co-Directors, Drs. Joshi Alumkal, M.D. and Ganesh Palapattu, M.D. Dr. Alumkal is the inaugural Wicha Family Professor of Oncology, Section Head of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Director of Epigenetic Therapy in the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Co-Leader of the U-M Rogel Cancer Center Translational and Clinical Research CCSG Program, and a Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at U-M. He will serve as the clinical/translational research mentor for the CEP. Dr. Palapattu is the George F. and Sandra G. Valassis Professor and Chair of Urology at U-M, director of the U-M High Risk Prostate Cancer Clinic, Co-Leader of the GU/Prostate Oncology Program, and a M-PI for the Michigan Prostate SPORE. Dr. Palapattu will also serve as a translational research mentor for the CEP. Applicants are selected from across departments and disciplines at U-M. The progress of the CEP investigators is monitored yearly by presentations to the Operating Committee, and funding can be terminated if the investigators are not fulfilling their commitment to translational prostate cancer research. Since 1995, our CEP has invested nearly $4 million in the program and supported 37 investigators. In return, the CEP investigators have generated an impressive ~$80 million in subsequent grants and produced 165 manuscripts during that time period. The effectiveness of this program is reflected by the fact that many CEP investigators (Drs. Morgan, Tomlins, Salami, Singhal, Spratt, Cooney, Chinnaiyan, Wei, Loberg, Parolia, Xiao, Qiao, and Feng) have become project Co-Leaders in the Michigan Prostate SPORE program over the years. In this proposal, the CEP will be supported by $75,000/year of institutional cost-share funds. We are requesting the remaining $25,000 per year from NCI.