Waltz Laboratory

National Cancer Institute T32 Training Program in Cancer Therapeutics

Program Summary

To improve cancer therapy, it is increasingly critical that advances in basic cancer research be translated to the clinic. In the Training Program in Cancer Therapeutics, the goal is to provide training to cancer researchers in the action of therapeutic agents used in the treatment of cancer. This Training Program is multi-disciplinary and exposes the trainees to both basic research involving cancer therapeutic agents and the clinical utilization of therapeutics. A particular emphasis is placed on the mechanisms through which basic scientific discovery is brought into the clinic through clinical trials. To facilitate this training, a team of mentoring faculty and ancillary clinical faculty has been recruited into the Training Program from the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Mentors on this training program are independently funded, have experience in mentoring, and work on projects related to cancer therapy. The ancillary faculty are clinical partners on this proposal, who educate on the clinical utilization of specific therapeutic modalities. Together, the mentors and ancillary faculty provide training both through direct interactions and through specialized educational activities and course work for the Training Program. This Program provides outstanding career development for trainees, as more emphasis is placed on translating basic scientific discovery into improved patient care. Logistically, the Training Program in Cancer Therapeutics has 20 mentors and 5 ancillary faculty. It is administered by the Principal Investigators and Administrative Committees, which are directed at training excellence and providing an ethnically and scientifically diverse group of trainees. The Training Program supports 6 postdoctoral and 3 predoctoral trainees (including 1 CURE funded position). The program is evaluated regularly through both internal and external review to ensure that the trainees are receiving the best possible training.

Program Goal:

The purpose of The Training Program in Cancer Therapeutics is to provide predoctoral and postdoctoral scientists training and mentorship on the action of therapeutic agents for use in the treatment of cancer. The training program will place emphasis on translating basic scientific discoveries into improved patient care and will incorporate mentors with expertise in the clinical and basic aspects of the use of therapeutic modalities.

Current Trainees:

• ShailajaAkunuru, PhD
• Nancy Benight, PhD
• Nicholas Brown
• Shailaja Hedge, PhD
• Shih-Jui Hsu, PhD
• Mitchell Springer, PhD
• Nassif Tabaja
• Sasha Ruiz-Tores

Past Trainees and Current Positions:

• Lisa Morey (2010)
  Assistant Professor
  Canisuius College
• Debra Mayes (2011)
  Assistant Professor
  Wright State University
• Jason Stewat (2013)
  Assistant Professor
  University of South Carolina
• Aaron Marshall (2011)
  Assistant Professor
  University of Cincinnati