A new, team-based cancer research training program developed by Radiation Oncology faculty has been awarded an NIH/NCI Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Institutional Research Training Grant.
Based on the premise that advances in fundamental understanding of cancer and its clinical management rarely occur in isolation, the Team-based Interdisciplinary Cancer Research Training Program (TICaRT) reflects a growing trend to bring together scientists with knowledge and perspectives from different disciplines.
“Our grant, one that is both novel and unique at the NIH, involves training across all UF Health colleges,” said program Director Dietmar Siemann, PhD, Professor and Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Radiation Oncology and the UFHCC Associate Director for Education and Training (shown below).
Relationships across scientific disciplines and collaborative interdisciplinary approaches to scientific discovery have been shown to lead to significant advances in cancer care. The TICaRT program aims to provide trainees with early exposure to interdisciplinary education and training as well as team-based learning and research environments, and will better position them for successful careers in any area of cancer research.
The program has assembled a cohesive group of 29 basic science and clinical faculty from 22 departments, nine Colleges, and ten PhD Programs. Each trainee will create and implement a tailored plan under the guidance of faculty mentors, with the goal of developing outstanding independent cancer research investigators in dentistry, engineering, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, veterinary medicine, and communication, among other areas.
In addition, it is hoped TICaRT will ultimately supply highly-trained cancer researchers – including women, underrepresented minorities, and individuals with disabilities – to academic, industry, or government entities across the state of Florida.
For more information, visit the UF Health Cancer Center’s TICaRT homepage.