# UCLA Tumor Immunology Institutional Traning Grant

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2022 · $536,711

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Despite decades of research, cancer is the Number 1 killer of adults under 85. Thus, there remains a
substantial need for new therapies grounded in mechanisms that the non-malignant cellular microenvironment
uses to prevent and control cancer. In direct response to that need, this revised, renewal application seeks to
continue the highly successful, multidisciplinary UCLA Tumor Immunology Training Program (UCLA TITP). The
TITP, as the sole training program at UCLA that integrates oncology with immunology, aims to provide
comprehensive, interdisciplinary training to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at the cancer-immune
system interface to foster immune approaches that prevent and control cancer. An equally important aim is to
prepare a well-trained cohort of experts, via augmented professional development activities, for productive
careers in a rapidly evolving job market as leaders in academic and commercial tumor immunology. It is an
extraordinary time in oncology as advances in tumor immunology are leading progress against intractable
cancers, with cell engineering and immune checkpoint inhibition at the cutting-edge. The TITP has superb
institutional synergies with the NCI-designated Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), the UCLA
Clinical Science Translational Institute (CTSI), the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), the
Graduate Programs in Bioscience (GPB), the UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), and
other exceptional campus research centers. The program Co-Directors have outstanding records of research
productivity and trainee mentoring. Trainees are recruited from a large pool with emphasis placed on research
integrity training, mentoring, and outreach to enhance diversity and underrepresented scientist participation.
We propose to support 9 trainees (3 pre- and 6 post-docs, up to 3 years, with strong progress) in a structured
program supervised by highly productive faculty. For this period, with an updated mentor corps, training is
focused in 3 high-priority tracts: Cancer Immunotherapy, Immuno-Oncology, and Tumor Microenvironment.
About 85% of past trainees continue cancer research careers in academia or industry. Over the past 6-months,
we performed a rigorous self-evaluation with input from trainees, faculty, and internal advisors to generate a
stronger program that fully aligns with expert reviewer comments. A continuing element is a leading-edge set
of pre-doctoral course choices that builds knowledge in basic, translational, and clinical tumor immunology
research. Other strong components include a monthly Research-in-Progress seminar series, annually updated
Individual Development Plans (IDPs), an annual summer Program Retreat, and major campus symposia
focused on cancer. Fundamental changes include establishing an External Advisory Board for program
evaluation, trainee feedback and expert guidance, and a more clearly defined didactic program for post-
doctoral train...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10381715
- **Project number:** 5T32CA009120-45
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Steven M. Dubinett
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $536,711
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-07-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10381715

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10381715, UCLA Tumor Immunology Institutional Traning Grant (5T32CA009120-45). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10381715. Licensed CC0.

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