This T32 grant from the National Cancer Institute (T32 CA165990) is led by Vivek Rangnekar, PhD (contact PI) and B. Mark Evers (Co-PI).
Abstract
This multi-disciplinary program will focus on training pre-doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows in cancer biology so that they can effectively decipher important research questions associated with human cancer. To accomplish this objective, we have integrated the already established and successful programs in Signal Transduction and Mechanisms of Cancer Cell Survival, Cancer Progression and Metastasis, Tumor Microenvironment, Metabolomics, and Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage with clinical exposure into one cohesive program. The trainees will receive both didactic and non-didactic instruction, laboratory-based basic science research training in cancer research and cutting edge clinical applications, and career development as independent cancer biologists.
The students and fellows will receive ample training to articulate their ideas and communicate them effectively, evaluate biomedical research, and mentor others in scientific excellence, and thus function as important members of the scientific community. This program assembles a cohesive group of basic science and clinical faculty from six different departments at the College of Medicine. In the past ten years our program faculty has trained 88 doctoral students and 104 post-doctoral students, and has the experience and the interdisciplinary focus to guide this group of trainees to function in research teams pursuing multidisciplinary investigations.
We mentor our trainees to be proficient at utilizing hypothesis-driven approaches as well as discovery-oriented research design to address key problems. All trainees are required to complete the foundation courses in graduate level Genetics, Biochemistry, Immunology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biostatistics, Ethics, and the Cancer Biology and Therapy course, which emphasizes cancer in the context of human disease.
Training also involves participation in the Markey Cancer Center Seminar Series and a Cancer Biology Journal Club. A unique feature of this program is the interdisciplinary training opportunity that will emphasize bench to bedside (and vice versa) research topics to provide a bridge between the fundamental biology of cancer and clinical cancer. The ultimate objective is to develop a cadre of future scientists who can become leaders in integrative team approaches to understand the complex issue of cancer as it relates to potential prevention and treatment strategies.
Moreover, to help ensure our commitment to the clinical-translation of basic science discoveries, Markey Cancer Center Associate Director Vivek Rangnekar, PhD, and Director Mark Evers, MD, will be PIs for this team-based training program. The University of Kentucky places a significant emphasis on training of minority students, post-doctoral researchers and physicians, and therefore this program will ensure the inclusion of individuals with under-represented racial and ethnic background to better serve our diverse society. Accordingly, this training program will train the next generation of cancer researchers to better understand and treat cancers using an interdisciplinary team approach.
Mentors included on the T32 Interdisciplinary Research Training in Cancer Biology Program
In addition to the mentors listed below within the four themes, mentees may choose mentors who are not included on the T32 but work on cancer-related themes at the University of Kentucky. To apply for a pre- or post-doctoral position related to this training grant, download the complete application instructions (PDF, 27 KB), which includes submissions instructions and deadlines.
Theme 1: Mechanisms of Cancer Cell Proliferation and Tumorigenesis
- Subbarao Bondada, PhD
- John D'Orazio, MD, PhD
- Mark Evers, MD
- Tianyan Gao, PhD
- Chunming Liu, PhD
- Qing-Bai She, PhD
Theme 2: Mechanisms of Cancer Cell Apoptosis
- Natasha Kyprianou, PhD
- Vivek Rangnekar, PhD
Theme 3: Role of Oxidative Stress in Tumor Progression
- Daret St. Clair, PhD
- Xianglin Shi, PhD
Theme 4: Cancer Microenvironment and Metastasis
- Kathleen O'Connor, PhD
- Rina Plattner, PhD
- Peter Zhou, MD, PhD
Theme 5: Metabolomics
- Teresa Fan, PhD
- Richard Higashi, PhD
- Andrew Lane, PhD