Surgical Oncologists as Scientists (SOAS) Training Program

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Translational cancer research that improves patient health requires a multi-disciplinary approach that advances innovative discoveries from (A) basic research to (B) preclinical validation (often utilizing biobanked tissue) to (C) clinical implementation via entrepreneurship and commercialization. But surgeons rarely receive formal training in biobanking and entrepreneurship, and few programs are designed to formally train surgeons in the cancer biology and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recognizing these critical gaps in training surgeon- scientists, the Department of Surgery and the Moores Cancer Center (NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center) and the Department of Surgery at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) propose a new program to support training for MD/DO surgeon-scientists who show objective evidence of a commitment to a career in academic surgical oncology for a two-year training program. We will create the Surgical Oncologists as Scientists (SOAS) Training Program centered on formal training in three topics: 1) the TME; 2) biobanking; and 3) innovation/entrepreneurship. The rationale for TME training is that increasingly, the oncologic surgeon- scientist needs to thoroughly understand details of how the TME plays significant roles in cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, response to therapies, and serves as novel targets for anti-cancer drugs. The rationale for training in biobanking is that academic surgeons are frequently asked to collaborate in research because their unparalleled access to human specimens, which must be properly banked in a dedicated biorepository. Finally, the rationale for innovation/entrepreneurship training involves the critical need to ensure that research training of surgeon-scientists has real-world translational relevance—that is, we need to demonstrably improve cancer care, not merely improve understanding. This rationale leverages the metropolitan San Diego area as the third largest assembly of components necessary to successfully translate (i.e., commercialize) innovations into Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved clinical realities. San Diego includes a plethora of biotech startups (hundreds spun out of UC San Diego), Angel investors, private equity and venture capital firms, contract research organizations, and local networking activities. The SOAS program will be co-led by a surgical oncologist/translational scientist and a PhD scientist that bring complementary, but unique skills in science and experience in innovation. Research training will occur within one of 14 Faculty Mentor’s laboratories, each of which has solid, continuous R01 NIH funding, and each has a strong record of successful mentorship. Also, Trainees will develop co-mentoring relationships with at least one of our 9 Entrepreneurial Liaison Advisors, each of whom has practical experience with translation (e.g., patents, start-ups). The SOAS Training Program will train collaborative surgeon-scientists to become future leaders in academic surgery and oncology to actively participate in translating innovative new discoveries into clinical cancer care.