T32 Training Program in T32 Training Program in the Biology of Cancer the Biology of Cancer

Larry H. Matherly, Ph.D.Larry H. Matherly, Ph.D.Director, Cancer Biology Director, Cancer Biology

Graduate Program Graduate Program Department of Oncology Department of Oncology

November 15, 2012 November 15, 2012

Provides foundation for T32 Provides foundation for T32 CA009531CA009531

Founded in 1987Founded in 1987 Based in the Department of Based in the Department of

Oncology (2010) at WSUOncology (2010) at WSU Broad-based curriculum in Broad-based curriculum in

state-of-the-art molecular state-of-the-art molecular and cell biology research and cell biology research with strong specialization in with strong specialization in cancercancer

Unique interface of Unique interface of graduate program with graduate program with clinical activities in the KCI clinical activities in the KCI cancer hospitalcancer hospital

Cancer Biology Cancer Biology Graduate Program Graduate Program

Shermaine Mitchell-Ryan (Y4)Shermaine Mitchell-Ryan (Y4)

Cancer Biology Cancer Biology Graduate ProgramGraduate Program

Currently 57 Currently 57 interdisciplinary facultyinterdisciplinary faculty

Areas of research Areas of research interest broadly include interest broadly include tumor biology, tumor tumor biology, tumor immunology, cancer immunology, cancer prevention, prevention, carcinogenesis, cancer carcinogenesis, cancer therapeutics, molecular therapeutics, molecular genetics, population genetics, population studies, and cancer studies, and cancer metatasismetatasis

Seema Shah (Y3) Seema Shah (Y3)

Cancer Biology Cancer Biology Graduate ProgramGraduate Program

30 trainees30 trainees 29 domestic trainees29 domestic trainees 12 males, 18 females12 males, 18 females 2 MD/PhD trainees2 MD/PhD trainees 5 URM trainees5 URM trainees ~4-5 recruits per year ~4-5 recruits per year

4 trainees currently 4 trainees currently supported by F30/F31 supported by F30/F31 fellowshipsfellowships

>97% completion rate>97% completion rate 4.7 years to completion4.7 years to completion

Aaron Burr (Y3)Aaron Burr (Y3)

More than 70 PhD More than 70 PhD alumni have progressed alumni have progressed to postdoctoral training to postdoctoral training positions in universities, positions in universities, research institutes, and research institutes, and pharmaceutical firmspharmaceutical firms

At least twelve hold At least twelve hold academic rank of at least academic rank of at least Assistant Professor Assistant Professor

Many others in pharma, Many others in pharma, other professional other professional positionspositions

Dr. Johnathan Whetstine, Dr. Matherly, Dr. Johnathan Whetstine, Dr. Matherly, and Dr. Jeffrey Tauband Dr. Jeffrey Taub

Cancer Biology Cancer Biology Graduate ProgramGraduate Program

T32 CA009531-26T32 CA009531-26

““Training in the Biology of Cancer”Training in the Biology of Cancer” Currently in year 26Currently in year 26 Last competitive review in February 2012Last competitive review in February 2012

Received perfect score of 10 Received perfect score of 10 Renewed for years 26-30Renewed for years 26-30

19 faculty members19 faculty members 2 junior faculty, 2 clinical faculty 2 junior faculty, 2 clinical faculty

Supports 6 predoctoral trainees/yearSupports 6 predoctoral trainees/year Draws from Departments of Oncology and Draws from Departments of Oncology and

PharmacologyPharmacology

T32 Stategies T32 Stategies Focus of training program Focus of training program

Interdisciplinary, topical, unique niche Interdisciplinary, topical, unique niche Pre- and postdoctoral trainees Pre- and postdoctoral trainees

Relation to other training programsRelation to other training programsPre- and postdoctoral training grants Pre- and postdoctoral training grants

(e.g., R25, T32)(e.g., R25, T32)Other support mechanisms (GRAs, Other support mechanisms (GRAs,

individual F31-type fellowships)individual F31-type fellowships) Benefits to traineesBenefits to trainees

Separate from other Separate from other departmental/institutional programsdepartmental/institutional programs

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32 Program director should have active Program director should have active

extramurally supported research program extramurally supported research program Experience in education, administration, and Experience in education, administration, and

mentorship mentorship

Associate Director with similar qualifications Associate Director with similar qualifications Internal and external advisory committees Internal and external advisory committees

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32 Diverse, well funded, generally experienced Diverse, well funded, generally experienced

mentorsmentors Include faculty of different ranksInclude faculty of different ranks May require co-mentorsMay require co-mentors Evidence of faculty collaboration Evidence of faculty collaboration Documented training history (trainee Documented training history (trainee

publications, grants, professional publications, grants, professional appointments, etc.)appointments, etc.)

Evaluative process for mentor selection and Evaluative process for mentor selection and replacement replacement

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32 Robust applicant pool (highly selective)Robust applicant pool (highly selective)

Domestic (“training grant eligible”)Domestic (“training grant eligible”) Not all local Not all local 5 year history of applicant numbers (applied, 5 year history of applicant numbers (applied,

enrolled, completed degree)enrolled, completed degree) Qualifications of most recent applicant pool Qualifications of most recent applicant pool

and current trainees (institution, GPA, GREs)and current trainees (institution, GPA, GREs) MD/PhD traineesMD/PhD trainees

Good recruitment strategiesGood recruitment strategies Graduate fairs Graduate fairs Undergraduate research fellowshipsUndergraduate research fellowships Recruiting dayRecruiting day Strong discriminators of success Strong discriminators of success

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32 Diversity recruitmentDiversity recruitment

Track record on recruitment and retention Track record on recruitment and retention Specific recruiting plan Specific recruiting plan

• ABRCMSABRCMS

• Partner with minority institutions Partner with minority institutions

• AlumniAlumni

• IMSD IMSD

• ““Dean’s Diversity Fellowship”Dean’s Diversity Fellowship”

• Summer undergraduate programsSummer undergraduate programs

Must justify number of training slotsMust justify number of training slots Particular focus (e.g., MD/PhD) Particular focus (e.g., MD/PhD)

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32 Robust trainee selection criterionRobust trainee selection criterion

Nomination and competitionNomination and competition Ratio of nominees/traineesRatio of nominees/trainees For predocs, no support for first yearFor predocs, no support for first year

Distribution of trainees to mentorsDistribution of trainees to mentors Retention and graduation ratesRetention and graduation rates

100% of training slots filled100% of training slots filled Focus on underrepresented minorities Focus on underrepresented minorities

Plan to evaluate trainee progressPlan to evaluate trainee progress Annual review (2 year max support)Annual review (2 year max support) Exit interview Exit interview

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32

Must document training facilities, key Must document training facilities, key equipment, and types of departmental or equipment, and types of departmental or interdepartmental interactions among interdepartmental interactions among trainees and facultytrainees and faculty

Plans to address issues of institutional Plans to address issues of institutional geography and trainee access to geography and trainee access to scientific, educational, and clinical scientific, educational, and clinical resources resources

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32 Must provide evidence of institutional Must provide evidence of institutional

supportsupport Cost sharing, tuition/benefit coverageCost sharing, tuition/benefit coverage

• No faculty salaries allowedNo faculty salaries allowed

• 40% tuition costs not covered for predocs40% tuition costs not covered for predocs

• Insurances exceeding $2000 not coveredInsurances exceeding $2000 not covered

Stipend and tuition support for years prior to Stipend and tuition support for years prior to and following T32 support and following T32 support

Infrastructure (facilities, cores, specimens, Infrastructure (facilities, cores, specimens, grants management, purchasing, etc.) grants management, purchasing, etc.)

Other support (program staff, recruiting Other support (program staff, recruiting costs, travel to scientific conferences, etc.)costs, travel to scientific conferences, etc.)

Documentation is essential Documentation is essential

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32 Unique features of training planUnique features of training plan

Unique curriculum (e.g., didactic courses, Unique curriculum (e.g., didactic courses, clinical rounding, qualifying exams, etc.) clinical rounding, qualifying exams, etc.)

Other training opportunies (networking, Other training opportunies (networking, symposia, seminars, etc.)symposia, seminars, etc.)

National/international meetings, special National/international meetings, special workshops, local meetings (GSRD, Graduate workshops, local meetings (GSRD, Graduate Student Forum), etc. Student Forum), etc.

Clinical interface Clinical interface Transition to individual fellowshipsTransition to individual fellowships Practical training (traditional/non-traditional, Practical training (traditional/non-traditional,

grant and fellowships, lab management, etc.) grant and fellowships, lab management, etc.)

Special populations (women, minorities) Special populations (women, minorities)

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32 Responsible conduct of researchResponsible conduct of research

Mandatory Mandatory Didactic course Didactic course Documented curriculum Documented curriculum Participating faculty Participating faculty Record of participation Record of participation

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32 Trainees must continue to be productive in Trainees must continue to be productive in

field and advance up professional ladderfield and advance up professional ladder

10 year follow-up (professional 10 year follow-up (professional appointments, publications, grants, honors) appointments, publications, grants, honors)

Evidence of career progression Evidence of career progression

• Open to interpretationOpen to interpretation

• Publications, grants, honors, positions, etc. Publications, grants, honors, positions, etc.

Plan for trainee follow-upPlan for trainee follow-up

• Tracking and solicitationTracking and solicitation

Alumni visits Alumni visits

Game plan for T32 Game plan for T32 Effect of training program on curriculum Effect of training program on curriculum

and/or research orientationand/or research orientation Impact on faculty productivityImpact on faculty productivity Foster collaborationsFoster collaborations Institutional visibility Institutional visibility

Faculty and trainee recruitingFaculty and trainee recruiting

Value of training-related expensesValue of training-related expenses Training costsTraining costs Travel and professional development Travel and professional development Special programsSpecial programs

CB Graduate Students with Dr. Judith CampisiCB Graduate Students with Dr. Judith CampisiCancer Biology Student Symposium, May 2012Cancer Biology Student Symposium, May 2012

Questions?Questions?