ASSURE Advanced Radiological Sciences Program

Advances in radiological sciences that respond to the complexity of cancer continue to expand exponentially with the integration of groundbreaking technologies such as (i) artificial intelligence (AI) throughout all cancer care, (ii) advanced imaging systems at the single quantum detection level, (iii) an explosion of combination therapies and radiopharmaceuticals as both imaging and therapeutic agents, and (iv) precision medicine for individualized treatment. To respond to this rapidly changing landscape, graduate programs in medical physics face significant challenges to train cancer researchers with scientific and technological skills to harness the potential of these emerging innovations. To address this critical need, we established the Academic Summer Student Undergraduate Research Experience (ASSURE) in Advanced Radiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW). ASSURE’s long-term objective is to equip future cancer researchers with the necessary skills to launch a successful scientific career through comprehensive undergraduate research experiences. Moreover, ASSURE addresses current barriers that limit the recruitment and retention of a diverse cancer research workforce, thereby enabling us to propel cancer research forward to redefine the technological landscape of what is possible in cancer diagnosis and treatment. To achieve this, we propose the following specific aims: Aim 1) Establish an immersive summer research experience in the radiological sciences. Through proactive outreach, we will recruit a diverse cohort of 17 undergraduate students that will participate in cancer- focused scientific training, including didactic lectures, mentored research experiences within laboratories, and interactive laboratory tours, culminating with a trainee symposium to showcase research accomplishments and provide community engagement. Aim 2) Implement a professional educational curriculum for mentees and selected mentors as facilitators, via structured training that complements the research experience. We have partnered with the Wisconsin Institute for Science Education and Community Engagement (WISCIENCE) at UW to i) provide ASSURE participants with a sustainable framework for professional development, ii) train ASSURE faculty in effective mentoring strategies, and iii) collect structured feedback and assessments of our program’s longitudinal improvement and successes. Aim 3) Quantify the sustained and measurable impact of ASSURE. We will assess the program at multiple endpoints, starting with intake and outcomes surveys while leveraging multi-layer assessment via faculty and an advisory board. We will establish an outcomes database to track career trajectories of ASSURE alumni and maintain long-term engagement activities for iterative program improvement. Overall, ASSURE incorporates state-of-the-art research experiences with unparalleled resources and complementary professional education to achieve our mission: to prepare the next generation of technologically- versed researchers while responding to the need of a diverse workforce to innovate and create new approaches to cancer diagnosis and treatment, with the overarching goal of improving outcomes in cancer patients.