Career Enhancement Program

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT of the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) Our Translational Research Program in Cancer Differences across populations (TRPCDP) Career Enhancement Program is an essential component of our SPORE. Its primary purpose is to attract and support new scientists from different disciplines (clinical, basic science, and population science) to the field of translational research focused on understanding and reducing differences in cancer incidence and mortality. By studying population groups with varying cancer rates, we enhance our ability to identify the molecular characteristics and contributing factors driving these differences, ultimately aiming to meaningfully reduce morbidity and mortality. This will be accomplished through achieving the following specific aims: 1. Research support: Foster collaborations that engage junior, mid-level, and senior investigators who wish to enhance or refocus their careers on translational research in differences in cancer incidence and mortality across population groups by providing research funding and complementary scientific expertise to pursue novel research projects. 2. Mentorship and Sponsorship: Using a structured approach, provide all investigators engaged in the CEP with appropriate mentors to help advance their pursuit of translational cancer research. Additionally, we will identify individuals within each investigator’s institution who can serve as sponsors and provide guidance and opportunities to help enhance their careers. 3. Leadership development: We will provide leadership development opportunities for CEP participants. 4. Recruitment and Retention: Through engaging in processes for new investigator/faculty recruitment and leveraging strategies for investigator retention in each of our participating institutions, we will support the recruitment of new investigators focused on translational research on cancer risk and outcomes among population groups and facilitate retention of investigators conducting this type of research. The CEP will be coordinated between FHCC, the ANTHC, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Ochsner Health. Recruitment of candidates will be conducted across all sites, and tailored career enhancement programs will be developed to meet the needs of each awardee. Cornerstones of our program include identifying and providing multi-disciplinary mentors, assigning sponsors, and providing opportunities for leadership development as appropriate. The number of scientists we can support has been further enhanced through designated center funds from FHCC to double the funding level of our CEP.