The purpose of this training program is to produce independent scientists capable of translating recent advances in immunology into progress in cancer research. Support is requested for 10 trainees (7 postdoctoral fellows and 3 graduate students) per year. The curriculum for graduate students consists of coursework, a qualifying examination, and research leading to the public defense of an original thesis. A broad range of courses in cell biology, genetics, statistics, biochemistry, and molecular biology is required of all graduate students, and additional courses and research experience is provided in immunobiology, molecular immunology, immunopathoiogy, tumor immunology, and cancer biology. The Postdoctoral Program consists of focused laboratory research while maximizing exposure to broad issues of cancer research thus giving trainees experience in all aspects of the cancer problem: basic, translational, and clinical research, disease detection, management and prevention, and patient perspectives and issues. In addition, a special enrichment program consisting of guest lectures, seminars, meetings with prominent researchers, and attendance of scientific meetings is provided for trainees. The 26 training faculty are all members of both the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and are drawn from the Departments of Immunology (13), Cancer Biology (1), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1), Experimental Therapeutics (2), Lymphoma (2), Melanoma Medical Oncology (3), Stem Cell Transplantation (1), Systems Biology (1), Urology (1), and Pediatrics (1). The faculty members have been selected as trainers because they have research expertise in at least one of the 5 areas covered by the training program (immunobiology, molecular immunology, immunopathoiogy, tumor immunology, cancer biology/carcinogenesis) and a sincere interest in graduate student and postdoctoral education. The graduate students and postdoctoral fellows must be U. S. citizens or permanent residents, hold a bachelor's degree or a Ph.D/M.D. from a recognized college or university, have an excellent record of academic achievement as an undergraduate or during graduate/medical school, and be committed to a research career in cancer immunobiology. Students may be supported by the training grant during years 2-5 of their graduate training. Postdocs will be supported for 2 years and possibly a third year if there is demonstrable progress and need. All of the laboratories are modern, fully equipped facilities within the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center which is part of the Texas Medical Center, one of the world's largest centers for medical care, research, and education.

Public Health Relevance

The relationship of the immune system and cancer is a long-standing interest of basic and clinical scientists. The rapid progress in the field of immunology needs to be applied to understanding the immunobiology of cancer and then translated into new strategies for the therapy or prevention of disease. The purpose of this program is, therefore, to provide research training for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees in cancer immunobiology, thus providing the next generation of scientists that focus on this important health problem.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
5T32CA009598-25
Application #
8727260
Study Section
Subcommittee G - Education (NCI)
Program Officer
Lim, Susan E
Project Start
1994-05-27
Project End
2015-07-31
Budget Start
2014-08-01
Budget End
2015-07-31
Support Year
25
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$374,589
Indirect Cost
$33,380
Name
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
800772139
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Kerros, Celine; Tripathi, Satyendra C; Zha, Dongxing et al. (2017) Neuropilin-1 mediates neutrophil elastase uptake and cross-presentation in breast cancer cells. J Biol Chem 292:10295-10305
Peters, Haley L; Tripathi, Satyendra C; Kerros, Celine et al. (2017) Serine Proteases Enhance Immunogenic Antigen Presentation on Lung Cancer Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 5:319-329
Ma, Qing; Zhou, Dapeng; DeLyria, Elizabeth S et al. (2017) Synthetic Poly(L-Glutamic Acid)-conjugated CpG Exhibits Antitumor Efficacy With Increased Retention in Tumor and Draining Lymph Nodes After Intratumoral Injection in a Mouse Model of Melanoma. J Immunother 40:11-20
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Reynolds, Joseph M; Lee, Young-Hee; Shi, Yun et al. (2015) Interleukin-17B Antagonizes Interleukin-25-Mediated Mucosal Inflammation. Immunity 42:692-703
Anthony, Scott M; Howard, Megan E; Hailemichael, Yared et al. (2015) Soluble interleukin-15 complexes are generated in vivo by type I interferon dependent and independent pathways. PLoS One 10:e0120274
Huang, Xinfang; Dorta-Estremera, Stephanie; Yao, Yihong et al. (2015) Predominant Role of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Stimulating Systemic Autoimmunity. Front Immunol 6:526
DeLyria, Elizabeth S; Zhou, Dapeng; Lee, Jun Soo et al. (2015) Sublingual injection of microparticles containing glycolipid ligands for NKT cells and subunit vaccines induces antibody responses in oral cavity. Carbohydr Res 405:87-92

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