# UCLA Tumor Immunology Institutional Training Grant

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $357,202

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Despite decades of research, and the ravages of a recent global viral pandemic, cancer will unfortunately
remain the Number One killer of adults under 85. Thus, there is a substantial need for new therapies based on
mechanisms that the non-malignant cellular microenvironment uses to prevent and control cancer. In direct
response to this need, our A1-revised competitive renewal application seeks to continue the highly successful,
multidisciplinary UCLA Tumor Immunology Training Program (UCLA TITP). The TITP, as the sole training
vehicle 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 and
highly diverse cohort of experts using 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, immune checkpoint inhibition, gene editing, computational biology, machine learning/AI, and
multiple interdisciplinary approaches 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 UCLA 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 and Associate Director have outstanding records of
research productivity and trainee mentoring. TITP recruits trainees from a large, unique and diverse pool with
emphasis placed on research integrity training, mentoring, and outreach to enhance underrepresented scientist
participation. We propose to support eight trainees (four pre- and four post-docs, up to three years, with strong
progress) in a structured program supervised by highly productive faculty. For this period, with an updated
mentor corps, training focuses in three high-priority tracts: Cancer Immunotherapy, Immuno-Oncology, and
Tumor Microenvironment. About 90% of past trainees continue cancer research careers in academia or
industry. TITP leaders, a preeminent refreshed EAB, and four internal Program Advisors perform ongoing
rigorous evaluations with input from trainees/faculty to strengthen the program. A key required element is a
pre- and post-doc curriculum 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 (typically summertime) Program Retreat, and major campus
symposi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10916472
- **Project number:** 5T32CA009120-47
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Steven M. Dubinett
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $357,202
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-07-01 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10916472

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10916472, UCLA Tumor Immunology Institutional Training Grant (5T32CA009120-47). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10916472. Licensed CC0.

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