Cancer Biology T-32 Training Grant

Guidelines and Application

Overview

The Cancer Biology T32 Training Program at the University of Maryland is a prestigious program designed to train predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in fundamental mechanisms of cancer biology at the molecular, cellular and organism levels. The program takes advantage of the multidisciplinary and highly interactive research environment within the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center and at the University of Maryland Baltimore campus to provide outstanding training in critical areas of basic and translational cancer research. A guiding philosophy is that Cancer Biology T32 training program must provide integrative activities that illuminate the inter-relatedness of basic cancer research and clinical medicine. Support for the program has been provided from a training grant from the NIH National Cancer Institute.

Major advances in our understanding the complexity of cancer and tumor cell biology requires a quantitative understanding of the many interconnected networks of molecules that comprise our cells and tissues, their interactions, and their regulation. A collective strength of the investigators of this training program is the integration of multiple, diverse disciplines that encompass experimental approaches and didactic knowledge from biochemistry, cell biology, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, pathology, and physiology, in addition to the clinical oncologic sciences that are involved in human cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment. The goal of Cancer Biology training program is to provide an integrative research experience with appropriate mentoring and career guidance to facilitate the inter-relatedness of basic cancer research and clinical medicine. The T32 Cancer Biology program is designed to meet this objective through appropriate didactic and research components, interactive seminars and workshops, and professional development that should provide a solid foundation for a long term and successful career in cancer research.

The T32 Cancer Biology Training Program has positions for predoctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and for residents and clinical fellows interested in cancer research.

To be considered for a position on this training grant, a faculty mentor (below) will be identified and a research plan will be developed in conjunction with the mentor.

The award of a trainee slot on this grant is for a 1 year period, and is renewable by competitive application for a 2nd and possibly a 3rd year, however each year involves a competitive renewal with no greater assurance of funding for ongoing applicants than for new applicants. Trainees and mentors are strongly encouraged to apply for individual competitive fellowships or for other cancer research grant support during their 1st or 2nd year in the program. All predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows supported by the Cancer Biology T32 training program will be encouraged to participate in didactic components, interactive seminars and workshops, and professional development to appropriate to their background, in order to provide a solid foundation for a long term and successful career in cancer research. 

Funding support from this grant is limited to the levels mandated by NIH guidelines. Salary may be supplemented from other single or combined sources, such as research grants, professional fees, etc. Health insurance and support for travel is provided. For M.D. trainees, support from the T32 Training Program provides ‘protected time’ for immersion in the laboratory and it is required that patient care responsibilities will be limited to <10% effort (one half day per week), primarily to help complete long-term patient care experience necessary for their subspecialities and to maintain patient-care skills.

Qualifications for Trainee Slots:

• All appointments to this training grant are restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
• Applicants must be committed to cancer research.
• Predoctoral applicants must be enrolled in GPILS (PhD or MD/PhD program) at the University of Maryland Baltimore. Students must have completed the required courses: GPLS 790 - Advanced Cancer Biology and GPLS 665 - Cancer Biology: From Basic Research to the Clinic.
• Postdoctoral applicants must have completed doctoral level training (e.g. PhD, MD, MD/PhD, PharmD, DDS or equivalent). Evidence of scholarly productivity in the form of publications or planned publications is highly desirable. Post-doctoral trainees from Residency and Fellowship training programs (e.g. Radiation Oncology, Hematology/Oncology, and Oncology residents from OB-GYN, Otorhinolaryngology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine or Surgery residency programs) are encouraged to apply.

Guidelines and Application

Faculty Members