The goal of the Career Development Program (CDP) in head and neck cancer (HNC) is to recruit, train, andmentor young or established scientists in basic, clinical, and translational research in HNC. The CDP is anessential part of the overall effort of this SPORE. In order to stimulate the next generation of translationalresearchers, attracting talented individuals from the level of post doctoral fellow to assistant professor anddefining research in HNC as a central theme of their career is vital. The CDP will provide financial supportand mentorship for achieving the goals stated above, while the SPORE itself will provide a nurturing andstimulating environment for candidates who are groomed as future leaders in translational research in thisfield. The faculty within the SPORE has an excellent track record in mentoring post doctoral fellows, youngscientists, and academically-oriented translational clinicians. Thus, the CDP will focus on these three typesof investigators by supporting two post doctoral fellows per year during the five-year grant period. TheEmory-Winship Cancer Drug Development and Pharmacogenomics Academy (DDPA) has already fundedtwo young investigators, one of whom has chosen to focus on HNC. We plan to support the recruitment oftwo additional faculty physicians, including a clinical translational investigator in upper aerodigestive andthoracic malignancies, and a basic scientist during the initial 3 years of the SPORE. The second recruitmentphase will involve the development of junior and senior faculty from multiple disciplines, potentially includinghead and neck surgery and organ preservation. Support for these recruits will come from Emory Universityand the Georgia Cancer Coalition, as well as the Winship Cancer Institute. These surgically orientedinvestigators will be recruited and supported in the last 3 years of the SPORE. The SPORE-initiatedrecruitment of new faculty will consider candidates identified through the existing recruitment process, withspecial emphasis placed on seeking minority candidates and women. We have already awarded seedpackages for research to two young women from Emory's Cancer Drug Discovery Program, and the CancerControl Program intends to supplement this developmental program.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 136 publications
