# Surgical Oncology Research Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $315,638

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Over the last three decades, we have witnessed an explosion in the understanding of the molecular
mechanisms underlying human disease. However, out of this knowledge has come a relatively small number of
successful novel therapies. Historically, surgical oncologists have played an essential role in the advancement
of cancer-directed therapies. Additionally, health services research is increasingly important to optimizing care
of surgical oncology patients. However, surgeon participation in research efforts has been seriously challenged
by ever growing surgical training demands and the complexity of the current health care environment. More
than ever it is critical that we make rigorous scientific training an integral part of our surgical training programs.
The principal focus of the Surgical Oncology Research Training Program at the University of Alabama-
Birmingham (UAB) is to strengthen academic surgical oncology research training by stimulating interested
physician-scientists to pursue translational and health services research training in oncology. Only one other
program of this nature exists in the Deep South and as a result, residents in the 19 general surgery
residency programs in the Deep South are steered toward other funded fields of research training.
 The overall program goal of the Surgical Oncology Research Training Program is to provide surgical
residents, who are strongly motivated toward a career in surgical oncology, with a comprehensive, mentored
research experience. The specific objectives of this program are to: 1) provide training in the conduct of basic,
translational and health services surgical oncology research through participation in an individual and tailored
didactic and mentoring program utilizing the extensive resources of the UAB Department of Surgery, UAB
Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC), the School of Medicine’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science
(CCTS), the Office of Postdoctoral Education (OPE), and an abundance of health services and disparities
research programs and centers; 2) develop surgeon-scientists and leaders in academic surgery with an
emphasis on surgical oncology; and 3) expand the pool of surgeon-scientists who will be competitive for future
research career development and independent research grants. The application includes a pool of successful,
experienced trainers from a variety of surgical oncology-related disciplines with research in the following focus
areas: cancer etiology and progression, exposure biology, experimental therapeutics, chemoprevention,
disparities in cancer outcomes and survivorship. Program leaders have significant past experience with
research training programs. The program addresses the evolving field of surgical oncology research through
the inclusion of training options in biostatistics and bioinformatics, genomics and disparities. Through its robust
cancer research environment and commitment to training, UAB and the UAB Department of Surge...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9966722
- **Project number:** 5T32CA229102-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Gregory Dean Kennedy
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $315,638
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-16 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9966722

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9966722, Surgical Oncology Research Training Program (5T32CA229102-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9966722. Licensed CC0.

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