The overall Specific Aim of the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) is to 1) recruit and develop the careers of junior faculty who are committed to translational research in prostate cancer (PCa), and to 2) identify mid- and senior-level investigators who are already established in another area of research, but want to redirect their focus to the field of PCa. Building on the already existing outstanding programs and excellent resources for translational and clinical research in PCa at Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) and the Columbia University Medical Center, our CEP is designed to develop future leaders in PCa research. Using a rigorous grant selection process, our CEP Advisory Committee (AC), will identify candidates with the highest potential for success and who are committed to careers in PCa research. The AC members will make recommendations to the WCM SPORE's Executive Committee for funding and then closely monitor the progress of all awarded investigators to ensure that the Program's goals in research, education, and scientific and grant writing are met. They will also provide positive research role models in a supportive academic environment. The ultimate goal of the CEP is to provide awardees with the knowledge and tools necessary for successful clinical, translational, and/or basic science PCa research careers. At the conclusion of their involvement with the CEP, awardees will be able to design and conduct hypothesis-driven PCa research, with significantly increased abilities to obtain peer-reviewed grant funding from federal or other extramural sources. Drs. Douglas Scherr and Lorraine Gudas, each of who have extensive experience in mentoring and developing the career of junior faculty, will oversee the CEP. As part of the CEP, we will also educate and mentor physicians and laboratory-based scientists in cross collaborations that will lead to the design and conduct of hypothesis-driven clinical/translational therapeutic research in PCa by creating a collaborative and productive research setting within the PCa SPORE.

Public Health Relevance

CAREER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM NARRATIVE Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the United States. The CEP will play a vital role in identifying promising candidates within Weill Cornell Medicine who will address challenges in prostate cancer research and candidates whose current research will be translatable to prostate cancer research.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Specialized Center (P50)
Project #
1P50CA211024-01A1
Application #
9357043
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2017-07-01
Budget End
2018-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
060217502
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
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