# Translational Oncology Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $266,711

## Abstract

Summary
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US, and many challenges still remain to discover novel and
more effective approaches to cure this devastating disease, which requires strong effort in translating basic
science knowledge into clinics. To accomplish this goal and further promote translational cancer research, it is
imperative to establish a sustainable program to train and educate the next generation of scientists and
clinicians, who must have broad knowledge and the ability to communicate and work with colleagues in both
fields. The goal of the Translational Oncology Training program (TOTP) is to ensure that the next
generation of cancer researchers are equipped with the tools and knowledge that will enable them to
bring bench-top discoveries into clinical trials and vice versa. The fellows and students in this program
will receive unique training in four different but highly integrated themes: Preclinical Modeling (PCM); Cancer
Image Guidance (CIG); Cancer Bio-Validation (CBV); and Clinical Translation (CLT). PCM focuses on analysis
of pathways and signaling involved in tumor progression using various preclinical models in order to identify
potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers. CIG provides training in state of the art image-guided diagnostic
approaches and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. Trainees in CBV will learn up-to-date
bioinformatics skills in multi-omics setting in order to study and analyze large cohort patient database.
Preceptors in CLT have ample experiences in clinical trials and they provide guidance on how to translate
basic knowledge into clinical trials. Trainees will rotate through three out of four themes during the first year
while taking didactic lectures from all four themes. They will also assemble a mentoring team consisting of both
Ph.D and MD faculty. The majority of preceptors of this T32 program are in the Hematology/Oncology and
Cancer Biology departments. This structure merges strong clinical and basic science entities in the Wake
Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center (WFBCCC). However, this training program is multidisciplinary
and in all, preceptors come from 11 different departments. The program is unique with many innovative training
tools: (i) highly integrated 4 translational themes that include both didactic lectures and hands-on rotations
among the themes; (ii) inclusion of both Ph.D postdocs and MD fellows to promote both bench-to-bedside and
bedside-to-benchtop translational cancer research; (iii) an individualized mentor team consisting of both Ph.D
and MD faculty; (iv) boot camp for clinical trial preparation for trainees (v) support from Disease Oriented
Teams (DOTs) from WFBCCC; (vi) Transition to Independence (TTI) program to support trainees to become
independent through preparation for K-type applications; and (vii) Broad-base career opportunities and
development plans such as Ph.D/MBA for graduate students. Therefore, through this training program, ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10799580
- **Project number:** 5T32CA247819-05
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Timothy Sebastian Pardee
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $266,711
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10799580

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10799580, Translational Oncology Training Program (5T32CA247819-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10799580. Licensed CC0.

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