Physician Scientist Training in Clinical Oncology

The University of Pennsylvania’s Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology K12 was established in 1997 and has received funding for 27 years. With this competitive renewal application, we seek continued support for the training and mentorship of 6 MD or MD/PhD investigators with a commitment to patient-oriented cancer research. Our K12’s mission is to identify and train the next generation of outstanding cancer medicine physicians who are engaged in cancer translational and clinical investigations from various oncology specialties. This program provides the critical protected time, mentorship, resources, educational experience, professional development, and environment necessary to achieve this goal. Our training program is bolstered by the remarkable physical and human resources and strong institutional commitments of the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, the Abramson Cancer Center, and the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Typical trainees have completed clinical oncology training and enter this K12 grant as instructors or junior assistant professors. We have appointed 70 Scholars from a deep pool of applicants fed from the various clinical oncology training programs (i.e., hematology/oncology or pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship, gynecologic oncology fellowship, radiation oncology residency). Following a call for applications, the K12 Executive Committee selects Scholars based on their demonstrated commitment and promise for cancer translational and clinical research. Once enrolled, Scholars embark upon a tailored curriculum based on their specific research interests and education, supplemented by didactic coursework and research seminars. Most Scholars are appointed for 2 years, with many then receiving individual K08 or similar career development awards. The uniqueness of this K12 is that is it focused on the development of clinician-scientists trained in clinical and translational cancer research. Progress of our Scholars is closely monitored by the K12 program’s Advisory Committee, which also reviews overall programmatic priorities. We have established high standards and expectations for our research mentors who come from multi-disciplinary backgrounds.The program measures success by publications, funding, and independent careers in cancer research. Over the last 27 years, 83% of our Scholars have gone on to pursue full-time academic careers, the vast majority of these with independent funding from NIH or other sources. To accomplish our goals, we will pursue the following specific aims: Aim 1) To recruit, select, and train a heterogeneous group of Scholars who are committed to patient-oriented clinical and/or translational research; Aim 2) To provide a program of rigorous didactic training, career and professional development and mentored clinical and translational research to launch and advance sustained academic careers in patient-oriented oncology research; Aim 3) To monitor the performance and ensure innovation of the K12 program through rigorous program evaluation and by tracking key milestones, outcomes, and metrics of success.