Career Enhancement Program

PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of the Route 66 Endometrial Cancer SPORE Career Enhancement Program (CEP) is to recruit and support early career and established investigators in translational endometrial cancer research. The CEP builds upon existing productive collaborations between outstanding researchers with expertise in translational endometrial cancer at the three partnering institutions: Washington University School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. We will further enhance these collaborations by providing funding support, didactic training, career development, and mentoring to new investigators in the field. The CEP will further solidify their mark on the endometrial cancer field by providing funding support and mentoring or advising to both: 1) early career investigators interested in pursuing endometrial cancer research and 2) established investigators interested in enhancing or exploring their interest to in translational research in endometrial cancer. The objective for the program is to build a cadre of investigators who will dedicate their efforts to endometrial cancer research and receive peer-reviewed independent funding. To achieve this objective, the CEP will pursue the following specific aims: 1) Recruit and support the careers of investigators new to endometrial cancer research; 2) Mentor and advise faculty researchers in translational endometrial cancer research; 3) Foster collaborations with partner institutions and other endometrial SPORE institutions. Successful completion of these aims will support new investigators, improve our understanding of the spectrum of endometrial cancer, and develop new approaches for early detection, prevention, and treatment of this prevalent cancer. Our ultimate goal is to build a strong CEP program that mentors investigators to achieve successful careers in translational endometrial cancer research with the skills to develop an independent SPORE project and vibrant research careers.