PROJECT SUMMARY The objective of the University of Chicago Institutional T32 Training program is to provide a scientifically rigorous and intellectually stimulating interdisciplinary research training environment for physicians who have completed ACGME accredited residency training to prepare for research-intensive careers in academia, government and industry. Candidates for T32 training are nationally recruited through Residency Matching program to the Section of Hematology/Oncology within our Department of Medicine with the expectation that candidates for T32 training will complete one clinical year funded by the hospital and then have a minimum of two or three years of research training under the proposed training grant depending on whether they perform patient-oriented research or fundamental basic/translational/population research. The direction of the program – provision of multidisciplinary, structured, career development, mentoring and leadership opportunities in cancer research – has not changed since the program’s inception, but we have continued to evolve the program in response to a national need to develop and/or enhance research training opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds interested in team science and translational research. There are several unique structural elements in the research training proposed: 1) access to a diverse population of cancer patients; 2) training under the guidance of multidisciplinary research preceptor(s) within a robust scientific environment that provides innovative scientific approaches, tools and technologies; 3) specific educational pathways in the form of course work and special seminars leading to advanced degree or certificate from any relevant unit in the University; and 4) community engagement and service learning opportunities to accelerate progress in cancer research and promote health equity. The 33 Senior and 22 Clinical/Junior research training faculty preceptors have NIH or equivalent peer- reviewed funding, interact on a number of collaborative research and training efforts and are well qualified to serve as potential mentors for the six trainees per year participating in this T32 program. Our extensive inpatient and outpatient facilities promote a comprehensive clinical training experience, while our research laboratories allow for the acquisition of basic research skills. With significant investments in new cancer programs and enhanced facilities, we have revamped our curriculum to offer coursework in emerging areas of cancer research including chemical biology, proteo-genomics, metabolomics, data science, implementation science and global oncology. In addition to leadership experience and entrepreneurship, our diverse populations in Chicago and our global partners will provide opportunities in community engaged research to advance novel interventions to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes. With the rapid pace of scientific advancement, a well- trained work forc...