# Paul Calabresi Clinical Oncology Award

> **NIH NIH K12** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2024 · $569,799

## Abstract

Project Summary
Although knowledge of cancer biology in the laboratory has increased exponentially in recent years, progress in
cancer treatment in the clinic has been more gradual. To accelerate progress in the clinic, a larger group of
exceptional clinician-investigators is needed to perform patient-oriented, hypothesis-driven therapeutic
translational research. The MD Anderson (MDACC) K12 Paul Calabresi Program in Clinical Oncology has taken
advantage of an extraordinary environment for clinical and translational research to help to fill this need. MDACC
brings together 1,743 faculty and 40,000 new patients each year with a well-developed infrastructure for clinical
and laboratory research and novel ideas that are supported by 378 NCI grants. For eight decades, MDACC
investigators have made important contributions to clinical cancer research. Since the inception of the MDACC
K12 Program in 2000, 35 junior-faculty investigators have been trained in patient-based translational research
with the program's support. Of the 31 graduates, 28 (89%) remain in academia and 13 have led or contributed
to discoveries that have changed the standard of cancer care. Among the 12 scholars trained since the last
renewal, three are from under-represented minorities (URMs). During the current grant period, eleven of twelve
(91%) scholars had either earned an additional advanced degree during the program or had previously earned
an MS or PhD. Collectively, Calabresi Scholars have authored 485 peer-reviewed publications while participating
in the program and 1,844 following graduation with impact factor >5 in 28.6% and >10 in 11.6%. They have
competed successfully for $35M in grants and contracts. Over the next 5 years, faculty supported by this award
will conduct hypothesis-driven clinical trials and will have the opportunity to earn an M.S. or Ph.D. in a newly
chartered track in Clinical and Translational Science. They will participate in the monthly “Master Class” and the
annual “Calabresi K Symposium”. Their Individualized Training Plans will include didactic classes, clinical trials,
publications, grant applications, and long-range planning. Each Calabresi Scholar is guided by a clinical mentor
and a translational mentor chosen from 40 experts in clinical, laboratory, and translational research. Particular
emphasis will be placed on rigorous evaluation and recruitment of minority scholars. Our overall goal is to identify
and develop careers of leaders who are needed to move an increasing number of new drugs and strategies from
the laboratory to the clinic and to bring insights, images, data and tissue from the clinic to the laboratory,
accelerating the development of more effective, less toxic personalized therapy. Funds are requested to include
five junior faculty not only from MDACC, but also from Baylor College of Medicine and UT Health in Houston.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10912440
- **Project number:** 5K12CA088084-23
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** David S. Hong
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $569,799
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2000-09-13 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10912440

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10912440, Paul Calabresi Clinical Oncology Award (5K12CA088084-23). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10912440. Licensed CC0.

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