# CEP: Career Enhancement Program

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $75,124

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – CAREER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (CEP)
The mission of the Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) Ovarian Cancer (OvCa) SPORE Career Enhancement
Program (CEP) is to foster the development of independent translational ovarian cancer researchers who will
impact ovarian cancer care. This includes supporting not only outstanding early career scientists, but also
experienced investigators wishing to transition their careers into translational ovarian cancer research, or
clinical investigators well versed in the design and performance of clinical trials who wish to broaden their
translational research experience. The HCC OvCa SPORE is fully committed to diversity and has established
collaborations with external institutions to increase the participation of under-represented scientists in the CEP.
The CEP will provide funding, access to SPORE resources, and a supportive research environment. Proposals
will be solicited annually and use an NIH-style peer-review scoring system to prioritize projects for funding.
Projects will be funded for 2 years at $50,000 per year, with half the monies coming from CEP and the other
half from institutional funds. The second year of funding will be contingent on progress made during the first
year. The CEP Co-Directors, SPORE Executive Committee, and SPORE investigators will participate in the
review process, together with Patient Advocates and ad hoc expert revewers when necessary. The final
selection of awardees will be made following a second tier review involving the SPORE Internal Advisory
Board (IAB). CEP awardees will be matched with an appropriate SPORE mentor and provided full access to
the HCC OvCa SPORE Core resources, including tissue specimens and bioinformatics/biostatistical support.
The CEP will directly facilitate career development through: i) constructive proposal review and feedback; ii)
research training with a mentor chosen from among diverse faculty with broad expertise and experience in
academic career development; and iii) access to development programs, including monthly ovarian cancer
research group meetings, monthly SPORE meetings, the annual HCC and Magee Womens Research Institute
retreats, and the annual SPORE retreat. The CEP will track progress of awardees and ensure that they obtain
any needed services from SPORE Cores, and make certain that they are fully integrated into the SPORE
program. Awardees will meet regularly with mentors and will be encouraged to participate in courses in clinical
and translational research to further enhance their career development. Projects that show the greatest
likelihood of impact and translation to the clinic can evolve into future full SPORE projects. Awardees will also
be advised as appropriate in the preparation of grant applications for funding outside the SPORE mechanism
and given access to SPORE resources to aid in this endeavor. These procedures were developed via a
previous joint P50 award that resulted in a 12-fold return on investment for CEP p...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10925304
- **Project number:** 5P50CA272218-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** FRANCESMARY MODUGNO
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $75,124
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10925304

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10925304, CEP: Career Enhancement Program (5P50CA272218-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10925304. Licensed CC0.

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