# Epigenetics, DNA repair and Genomics (EDGe) Training Program in Cancer

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · 2024 · $179,264

## Abstract

Here we propose a new Epigenetics, DNA repair and Genomics (EDGe) Training Program in Cancer to
support 4 pre-doctoral students per year. EDGe will take advantage of a thematic interest in the fields of DNA
repair and epigenomics and the intersection of these fields in the context of cancer to provide opportunities for
interdisciplinary training and interactions among students and dedicated training faculty. The UTHealth SA's
Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) graduate program is interdisciplinary; many students specialize in
cancer-related disciplines, including Cancer Biology, Biochemical Mechanisms in Medicine and Cell Biology,
and Genetics and Molecular Medicine. Within these three disciplines in particular, there is a strong interest in
both DNA repair and epigenetic control of transcription programs as it relates to cancer biology, though we will
not limit to these three disciplines. Another focus is the critically important interface of DNA repair, transcription
regulation, and chromatin organization to elucidate the basis of cancer development and identify potential
therapeutic strategies. This T32 training program takes advantage of faculty expertise (25+ experienced
mentors), a multi-disciplinary leadership structure, and the availability of a curriculum infrastructure of relevant
topics that can provide cross-disciplinary training in cancer biology for our next generation of cancer biologists.
The highly interactive faculty mentors bring training expertise in critical aspects of DNA repair and epigenetics,
from biochemical structure/function to cell biology, bioinformatics, and translational approaches. The first two
years of the IBMS graduate program includes completing two years of coursework, both general IBMS courses
and core discipline-specific courses. Students will be appointed to the proposed T32 for 2 years, after passing
their qualifying exam and following rigorous competitive evaluation and interview. As part of this EDGe Training
Program, we will require trainees to acquire cross-disciplinary training to strengthen their understanding of
cancer biology, DNA repair, and epigenetics, including cancer biology core courses and bioinformatics.
Trainees will also be required to take an institutional course on responsible conduct of research, be involved in
trainee-organized event planning, and participate in additional enrichment activities, such as the Texas-wide
Genome Instability Group seminar series. They will also be expected to participate in T32-specific meetings
comprising research-in-progress presentations and to attend the Mays Cancer Center's annual retreat. As a
minority-serving educational institute, diversity training is a major component of our program, seeking to
promote recruitment and retention of diverse students while working to enhance outcomes by increasing
competitive criteria for selection and augmenting mentoring. EDGe will be evaluated annually by an External
Advisory Committee and quarterly Executive...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10782813
- **Project number:** 1T32CA279363-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Robin Jean Leach
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $179,264
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10782813

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10782813, Epigenetics, DNA repair and Genomics (EDGe) Training Program in Cancer (1T32CA279363-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10782813. Licensed CC0.

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