Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination

As the only NCI-designated cancer center in South Florida, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (Sylvester) is deeply committed to providing cancer-focused education, training, and career enhancement to trainees and faculty. Guided by Kerry L. Burnstein, PhD (TB), Associate Director (AD) Education and Training, other Sylvester leaders, Sylvester’s External Advisory Board and the Cancer Education Leadership Council, Sylvester’s CRTEC continues to fulfill the broad mission of building and sustaining a robust pipeline of exceptional, collaborative, and interdisciplinary cancer researchers and healthcare professionals. CRTEC aims are to 1) provide cancer research career enhancement across the continuum of students, trainees, faculty, and non-faculty healthcare professionals, through stage-specific scientific and professional development programs; and 2) coordinate center-wide training and educational programs that facilitate collaborative and interdisciplinary basic, clinical, translational, and population-based cancer research. In alignment with Sylvester’s Strategic Plan, CRTEC works with Sylvester’s Office of Outreach and Engagement (SOOE) to ensure that an understanding of the cancer burden within Sylvester’s catchment area and corresponding priorities informs trainee and faculty cancer research. CRTEC has developed and maintains a database of more than 4,000 current and former trainees for outcome tracking, activity planning, and evaluation of CRTEC programs. Sylvester continues to invest $1.3M annually in education and training, which includes funding for additional positions on cancer research-focused training and career development grants. This support has led to an increase in cancer-relevant, peer-reviewed funding (annual direct costs) from $1.2M to $4.1M during the reporting period. This includes an increase in K awards from five to 12, and F awards from seven to 25, as well as several new cancer-focused training grants. Guided by CRTEC, Sylvester faculty have renewed key training and career development grants and obtained new grants, including an NCI R25 to support undergraduate cancer research and career development, and an NCI T32 (Training to Reduce Burden across the Cancer Control Continuum (TRACC)) for post-doctoral associates. Investments in education and training as well as extensive recruitment of scientists and clinicians have increased Sylvester’s capacity to train and mentor a robust pipeline of individuals and provide them with a uniquely rich environment for learning, mentoring, and pursuing cancer research careers.