# Career Enhancement Program

> **NIH NIH P50** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $94,583

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The goal of the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) is to enhance pancreatic cancer research by providing
financial support and mentoring for investigators new to the field. The CEP will recruit both junior faculty and
established investigators who are transitioning into pancreatic cancer research. Highly qualified individuals will
receive awards that will help support their research in this field, with a major emphasis on translational
research. The CEP will ensure that its new investigators are mentored by both a clinical and a laboratory
scientist. The CEP will select awardees from the collaborating SPORE institutions and, as the program
matures, from other appropriately qualified institutions. Financial support (salary, research supplies and tuition)
will be provided for up to two years. The CEP will facilitate interactions between awardees and all members of
the SPORE, emphasizing the basic and clinical science cross-fertilization that is essential to translational
research. The Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University, and our collaborating SPORE institutions
provide outstanding opportunities for career development in translational pancreatic cancer research. We have
the broad research base, existing and continually evolving new collaborations, basic science, and clinical
programs in pancreatic cancer, meaning we have the wiling mentors necessary to make the CEP a success.
A CEP Advisory Committee of senior faculty has been established. William E. Gillanders, M.D., Director of the
CEP, will chair the committee, and work with the SPORE leadership, project leaders and administrative staff to
provide support to new investigators. Channing Der, Ph.D., will serve as the co-Director, bringing a wealth of
expertise in basic science mentorship to the CEP. We will specifically seek out underrepresented minority
faculty to participate in the program. Sarah Gehlert Ph.D. will assist with the recruitment, training, and retention
of women, minorities, and disabled investigators in pancreatic cancer research. The CEP, along with the DRP,
is specifically committed to the recruitment of minority investigators.
To foster inter-SPORE collaborations, we have established collaborations with SPORE programs at the
University of Nebraska Medical Center and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. This will encourage
participation in the CEP programs at each of the SPORE institutions. The CEP will be open to all institutions
participating in the SPORE. Intra-SPORE collaborations will also be facilitated with University of North
Carolina, University of Rochester, and Johns Hopkins University, broadening the CEP applicant pool and
helping to match the interests of junior investigators with local expertise and need.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982231
- **Project number:** 5P50CA196510-05
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** William E. Gillanders
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $94,583
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982231

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982231, Career Enhancement Program (5P50CA196510-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982231. Licensed CC0.

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