Advanced Training in Urologic Oncology

Urologic cancers impose a significant burden on the health of Americans. In 2023, an estimated 68,000 individuals will die from cancers that fall under a urologist’s care, a figure that accounts for 11% of all cancer mortality. These numbers are expected to rise over the next decades as the overall population ages. At the same time, the pace of innovation and discovery in translational science and health services research in the area of cancer continues to accelerate. These combined factors require a well-prepared, research-oriented work force that is capable of asking and answering clinically relevant scientific questions that have potential to be translated into impactful discoveries. A number of sources suggest that today, only a small fraction of urologic surgeons possess such skills. The primary goal of this T32 renewal application is to prepare urology trainees for an academic career in urologic oncology by providing a comprehensive training program comprised of mentored training options in either translational laboratory science or health services research. Investigative themes of the program will be based on the research focus and expertise of a group of multi- disciplinary externally funded faculty members in the Rogel Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Michigan and composed of individuals from the Departments of Urology, Internal Medicine, Pathology, Surgery and Pharmacology- all in the University of Michigan Medical School as well as faculty from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. This proposal is a renewal application to train 4 postdoctoral fellows per year. The major objective of our Advanced Training in Urologic Oncology program is to prepare individuals for research and teaching careers in the field of academic Urologic Oncology. Graduating urology residents having an M.D. or M.D./PhD. degree will be eligible. The program is structured around a research project supervised by both research and methods mentors as well as an interactive and informative conference series and a required core curriculum that includes specific graduate level courses that may lead to a Master’s degree. Each trainee will choose between 1 of 2 tracks: translational laboratory science or health services research. The goals of the program are to ensure that trainees: 1) design, implement, analyze and report a research project, 2) obtain formal instruction on fundamental research methods and 3) gain instruction on either fundamental principles of cancer biology (translational science track) or essential elements of conducting health services research (health services track). There will be a special emphasis on formulating and testing hypotheses that address clinically important questions. Additional training in the effective communication of scientific results as well as grant preparation will be provided to all trainees. The long-term goal of our program is to prepare trainees for independent careers in academic urologic oncology.