Prevention and control programs, guided by a rigorous evidence base, can accelerate progress toward
reducing cancer incidence and mortality in the United States. The number of individuals affected by cancer
continues to grow as the U.S. population ages, and disparities in cancer incidence and mortality persist by
race/ethnicity, socioeconomic position, and geography. Reducing the impact of cancer requires increasingly
complex, transdisciplinary, and team science approaches that consider the role of social and structural
determinants of health. Accordingly, we need to grow a diverse cancer prevention and control research
workforce who are adept at transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary team science. Our ongoing Transdisciplinary
Training Program in Cancer Prevention and Control T32 aims to train postdoctoral scholars and expand
pipeline of prevention and control investigators. Housed in the Division of Public Health Sciences in the
Washington University School of Medicine, and Siteman Cancer Center, we are intentional in creating a
community of trainees from different public health disciplines, including behavioral sciences and epidemiology.
Our Program Mentors have robust research programs in cancer prevention and control, and represent multiple
schools and departments across the university. Our training program includes structured elements such as
individual development plans, mentored research, and required training in cancer prevention/control and health
disparities. Trainees customize their other didactic training to meet individual needs and goals. Our innovative
approach includes a transdisciplinary journal club and career development seminars. Over the course of our
first two cycles of funding, we have demonstrated success in recruiting, retaining, and training a diverse group
of successful researchers. Of 18 completed trainees, 15 remain in research related positions, 2 are in further
training, and 1 is delivering clinical cancer care. More than half of trainees are women, and half come from
backgrounds under-represented in medicine. Several trainees now have K awards (1 K99-R00, 3 K01s) and
other early career or pilot awards. They are well on their way to R01 funding. Our process includes evaluation
and adaptation of the program based on internal and external advisors and the ever-changing field of cancer
prevention and control. With this renewal, we will enhance training in rigor and reproducibility, team science,
and create pathways to early leadership for our trainees. We have formalized requirements for mentor training
for mentors and trainees. We will continue to leverage institutional resources, ongoing NIH-funded research,
and a close collaboration with the NCI-designated Siteman Cancer Center to sustain and improve our training
and impact. Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center offer a rich environment for
trainees, and our transdisciplinary training in cancer prevention and control is a unique resource to the
university environment. This renewal (Years 11-15) allows us to continue to train PhD and MD scientists to
conduct transdisciplinary research and lead the next generation of cancer prevention and control researchers.
Public Health Relevance Statement
PROJECT NARRATIVE
Accelerating progress and building the workforce in cancer prevention and control is critical to reducing
national cancer burden and reducing inequities. Increasingly, tackling excess cancer burden and improving
cancer outcomes requires complex transdisciplinary and team approaches. This unique postdoctoral training
program at Siteman Cancer Center aims to develop the next generation of cancer researchers and leaders
who can continue to make progress to reduce the growing burden of cancer in communities.
NIH Spending Category
No NIH Spending Category available.
Project Terms
Cancer Controlcancer preventionpost-doctoral training
No Sub Projects information available for 2T32CA190194-11
Publications
Publications are associated with projects, but cannot be identified with any particular year of the project or fiscal year of funding. This is due to the continuous and cumulative nature of knowledge generation across the life of a project and the sometimes long and variable publishing timeline. Similarly, for multi-component projects, publications are associated with the parent core project and not with individual sub-projects.
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Patents
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Outcomes
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No Outcomes available for 2T32CA190194-11
Clinical Studies
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News and More
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History
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Similar Projects
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