# Career Enhancement Program

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2020 · $154,071

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY (Career Enhancement Program) 
The goal of the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Prostate Cancer 
SPORE (Prostate Cancer SPORE) is to develop a cadre of investigators dedicated to translational studies of 
human prostate cancer. It is directed by Dr. Gary E. Gallick and co-directed by Dr. Christopher J. Logothetis. 
The program will: 1) recruit innovative entry-level scientists to the Prostate Cancer SPORE to enhance the 
overall translational research capability of the SPORE and bring new techniques and talent to our program; 2) 
help these individuals develop the intellectual and technical skills required to be productive investigators in 
translational prostate cancer research; 3) teach these individuals basic principles of cancer biology not 
commonly included in clinical training or doctoral degree programs; and 4) guide the entry-level scientists in 
the development of competitive grant proposals in the area of translational prostate cancer research. The 
unique educational environment at MD Anderson will ensure that these goals will be met. At least two Career 
Enhancement awardees will be selected annually during the active funding period from qualified candidates 
within and outside MD Anderson who respond to a SPORE solicitation based on the defined criteria. Special 
emphasis will be placed on recruiting qualified women and members of minority populations whenever 
possible. In response to the previous critique, Dr. Logothetis will be actively involved in recruiting qualified 
physician/scientists to increase the number of MDs obtaining CEPs. Mentorship training will include principles 
of cancer biology, scientific methods, statistical analysis, biomedical communications, and strategies 
necessary to become successful in translational prostate cancer research. Several courses in The University of 
Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston that encompass these disciplines are available to 
CEP recipients. The CEP recipients will be evaluated annually, and the selection process and training will be 
modified when appropriate. In addition, “upward” evaluation by recipients to their mentors will also occur 
annually, with modifications to the program made, as necessary, in response to input of CEP recipients (see 
Appendix “CEP Pilot Project Review Form” and “CEP Evaluation Form” for evaluation criteria). 
Nine Career Development awards (now Career Enhancement awards) have been funded by the Prostate 
Cancer SPORE. Investigators receiving CDP awards wrote 53 publications. A total of 25 externally reviewed 
grant applications were funded. Of note, Dr. Hui-Kuan Lin, a CDP awardee, will submit a Developmental 
Research Program (DRP) project to the SPORE, reflecting the synergistic relationship between the CEP and 
DRP mechanisms. Dr. Ana Aparicio, genitourinary medical oncologist, is a CEP awardee.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10005149
- **Project number:** 5P50CA140388-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Timothy Charles Thompson
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $154,071
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2009-09-02 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10005149

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10005149, Career Enhancement Program (5P50CA140388-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10005149. Licensed CC0.

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