Building MOMENTUM: Markey's Commitment to Cancer Research Education
At the UK Markey Cancer Center, education reaches far beyond the classroom.
Markey’s Oncology Mentoring, Education, Networking and Training Umbrella (MOMENTUM) Program is a defining part of our designation as an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center. MOMENTUM offers a supportive education and training community for cancer researchers at all levels, from K-12 to postdoctoral scholars and even early career faculty members. Through transdisciplinary programs, this trainee program and its network provides students with the skills, knowledge and connections to thrive in their academic journey and beyond.
MOMENTUM uses multi-faceted programming, professional development and career-stage appropriate activities across all training levels. The program allows trainees to engage in Markey’s breadth of transdisciplinary research, research programs and shared resource facilities. The result is a set of comprehensive efforts to enhance training and provide pathways to career development and enhancement. The MOMENTUM programs were BUILDING MOMENTUM: MARKEY’S COMMITMENT TO CANCER RESEARCH EDUCATION an essential component of Markey’s comprehensive status designation from the NCI.
“MOMENTUM is a community network and series of opportunities that shape the next generation of leaders in the field,” said Kathleen O’Connor, PhD, Associate Director of Cancer Education and Mentoring.
A key component of the trainee network is mentorship. Early career faculty are assigned a mentorship committee. The committee guides their research, reviews grant applications and provides feedback. Faculty serve as mentors for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, who in turn provide mentorship to high school and undergraduate students.
“It’s a great learning experience for our graduate students and postdocs for when they go on to have labs of their own and have to mentor their own students,” says cancer education coordinator Erin Oakley, PhD.
A fellowship bootcamp also teaches graduate students and postdoctoral scholars how to write competitive grant proposals. Experienced mentors guide trainees through the grant writing process, from developing strong research questions to crafting a compelling narrative.
Since 2018, the MOMENTUM program has impacted 2,517 trainees, including 155 Appalachian students.
Of the trainees who were part of the fellowship bootcamp and submitted a funding application for their research, 68% were funded. Participants also earned Kentucky’s first and second ever predoctoral to postdoctoral fellow transition awards from the NCI.
SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATION
Viral Oza
Graduate Research Assistant; Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Department; Lab of Jessica Blackburn, PhD
How did the fellowship bootcamp prepare you for your grant application?
I participated in the bootcamp initially because I was interested in developing a fellowship application. I used many of the resources I learned about during the bootcamp and received a lot of helpful feedback from the grants office. Every session was informative and helpful.
I received a fellowship through the National Cancer Institute. The bootcamp provided the necessary background information and resources for me to write a successful application. I’m very thankful to Markey for organizing this.
A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE
Mariah Geisen
5th Year Graduate Research Assistant; Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology; Lab of Yekaterina Zaytseva, PhD
How has Markey’s trainee network helped you?
As a graduate student, the trainee network has been crucial for advancements in my research and professional development. Most importantly, the trainee network allowed me to apply for and be awarded a predoctoral fellowship. I have also had the opportunity to strengthen my mentoring skills by mentoring high school and undergraduate students in the lab. As a result of my mentorship, I have received the College of Medicine’s STRONG Simpson-Jones Award for Excellence in Teaching and Training.
How has the trainee network prepared you for further education and your career?
My experience with the trainee network has been transformative. The diverse opportunities for professional development, career planning, networking, mentorship and skill-building have equipped me with essential tools for success as a graduate student and prepared me for a career after graduation. It also provides valuable opportunities to support the community, which I believe is an important aspect of being a well-rounded scientist.
SUPPORT FOR A CAREER CHANGE
Daniel Plaugher, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow; Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology; Lab of Christine Brainson, PhD
How has the trainee network helped you?
I earned a PhD in mathematics and then decided to change my focus to cancer research. As a math major, I’d never written a grant. I started filling out grant applications in my first year thanks to the fellowship bootcamp and support from Dr. Brainson.
From transitioning from math to cancer research to securing a prestigious fellowship, I’ve had incredible opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. The grant writing fellowship bootcamp, mentorship and research experiences have equipped me with the skills and knowledge I need to be successful.
What are your plans?
I’m researching immunotherapy for lung cancer. My father was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly after I started and that added a boost because it hit closer to home. I want to continue lung cancer research after I complete my studies.
TAKING ACTION IN KENTUCKY: APPALACHIAN STUDENT FOLLOWS HIS DREAM OF BECOMING A DOCTOR
The UK Markey Cancer Center’s Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program trains high school and UK undergraduate students from Appalachian Kentucky for cancer research and healthcare careers.
ACTION program participants must be from one of Kentucky’s Appalachian counties and members of underserved groups as defined by the National Institutes of Health, including historically underserved minorities, people with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Markey Cancer Foundation provides support for the program. “ACTION is a unique program that engages students from the counties where cancer has the greatest impact in Kentucky,” said Foundation President and CEO Michael Delzotti. “Support from the foundation’s generous donors defrays the costs for these students and enhances and sustains ACTION’s impact on Appalachian Kentucky.”
The Foundation seeks to fund the ACTION program for the long-term. “Our goal is to create a $3M endowment, a declaration for the future, so the program will benefit as many students as possible.”
Matthew Sanders, a junior UK undergraduate student in agricultural and medical biotechnology, first enrolled in ACTION as a high school sophomore. While in high school, he gained valuable experience through his first research projects and clinical shadowing experiences.
“My participation has opened the doors to many opportunities that I could have never imagined,” Sanders said. “Growing up in a small town in southeastern Kentucky, I had limited opportunities to prepare me for working in a clinical setting, and there were no opportunities for research.”
At first, Sanders found transitioning from rural Kentucky to Lexington challenging. “However, everyone that I interacted with was friendly and shared a similar passion of fighting cancer, helping ease the anxiety,” he said. As an undergraduate student, he’s now collaborating with a PhD student on a comprehensive project.
Sanders’ experience with ACTION contributed to his decision to pursue a career in medicine. “It was not until I was in ACTION that I realized that cancer was worse in my hometown than anywhere else in the country,” he said. “I have developed a passion to fight the cancer epidemic that plagues Kentucky, and I feel that becoming a physician is the best way to achieve this goal.”
Sanders was accepted into the College of Medicine Early Assurance Program, an achievement he said wouldn’t have been possible without all he’s learned in the ACTION Program.
“My involvement with ACTION has helped me discover my calling,” he said. “As a student from Appalachia, becoming a doctor seemed like a dream goal that would most likely prove unattainable.”
