Cancer Research Training andEducation Coordination

Training and education have a long-standing legacy at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC). The goal of this Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) program is to coordinate and track the success of these activities while working with Program Leaders and SKCCC’s leadership to identify new areas of need that will align with SKCCC’s strategic plan. CRTEC’s priority is to train a well-equipped workforce that meets future challenges in cancer research. Programs span career stages from high school students to junior faculty.

Training is cross-disciplinary and includes dedicated programs for oncology nursing, pharmacy, genetic counselors, administrators, as well as science educators in the catchment area. CRTEC’s portfolio includes seven NCI-funded T32 training grants; six additional T32 training grants are led by SKCCC members and have a significant cancer focus. These programs support pre- and post-graduate trainees in cancer epidemiology, nanotechnology, molecular medicine, and immunology among others. Several are dedicated to training physician-scientists including medical, pediatric, and surgical oncologists.

Cancer-relevant peer reviewed funding is $10.1M with $5.1M from the NCI. CRTEC benefits from strong institutional support with a $2.8M annual budget that supplements training grants, facilitates CME activities, and supports new training programs. Since Dr. Mary Armanios was recruited as Associate Director for CRTEC in 2019, she founded and leads the Office of CRTEC.

Dr. Armanios has refined governance to include new working committees with oversight from a Steering Committee. An Internal Advisory Board provides bi-directional feedback with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) entities. CRTEC coordinates widely attended courses, retreats, and CME activities.

An NCI-funded R25 program disseminates a curriculum on non-pharmacologic approaches to cancer pain management nationally. Workshops addressing cutting-edge technologies have been introduced, and CRTEC serves as a single point of contact for making these opportunities available to JHU faculty, staff and trainees. CRTEC has leveraged existing JHU programs to create new oncology threads for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students; these have 40-70% matriculation rates into graduate and medical school. A research program for medical students from universities without comprehensive cancer centers supports one-third of matriculating students entering oncology careers.

A new grant writing curriculum supports trainees and junior faculty through workshops, internal review, and a Grant Club; these efforts have led to 50-80% funding rates in the first two years. During the next period, CRTEC will continue to use existing resources to track trainee and junior faculty outcomes through new metrics modules, and work with other CCSG components to train a workforce that is ready to meet future challenges in cancer research.

Grant Number: 5P30CA006973-62
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Mary Armanios