Transdisciplinary research in energetics and cancer (TREC) training program for early career investigators.

Authors

null

Melinda L. Irwin

Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT

Melinda L. Irwin , Diana Lowry , Marian L. Neuhouser , Curtis Henry , Dorothy Sears , Kathryn Schmitz , Linda Nebeling , Jennifer A. Ligibel

Organizations

Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA

Research Funding

U.S. National Institutes of Health

Background: Given the rising prevalence of obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity, known in combination as “energy balance” or “energetics”, as well as their associations with cancer incidence and mortality, innovative research, clinical care and training of scientists are needed to lower the prevalence of these risk factors and in turn, lower cancer incidence and mortality rates. Methods: With NCI support (R25CA203650) from 2016-2021, we developed and offered an annual one-week, in-residence Transdisciplinary Research in Energetics and Cancer (TREC) Training workshop, followed by a yearlong mentoring program, that focused on energy balance and cancer research across the cancer control continuum. Results: We recruited, educated, trained and mentored 123 early career investigators (TREC Fellows) from 64 different institutions and from diverse academic backgrounds (i.e., 20% basic, 33% clinical and 47% population sciences) in transdisciplinary research in energetics and cancer. Fellows accepted to the TREC Training Program worked with more than 20 expert international TREC Faculty on developing grant applications and original research toward key gaps in energy balance and cancer research. TREC Fellows have published over 270 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, with at least 62 published manuscripts including the TREC Fellow as first or senior author and including a TREC Faculty and/or Fellow as co-author. Since completing the Program, TREC Fellows have received at least 31 extramural grants, as principal investigator. Building upon the strengths of the previous five years, we were awarded a competitive renewal to continue the TREC Training Program through 2026. TREC Training program goals are: (1) to continue to offer a TREC Training Program for ̃100 academically diverse early career investigators including a 5-day in-residence workshop focused on the Fellows research, networking, mentoring and professional development; (2) to evaluate the TREC Training Program and track TREC Fellows career development; and (3) to disseminate the TREC Training sessions, webinars and newsletter to the broader community of investigators. Conclusions: To our knowledge, no other in-residence training program exists that focuses on energetics and cancer research. Our vision is to continue the TREC mission of training scientists and clinicians to develop a cadre of well-trained, diverse researchers. The overall impact of this transdisciplinary training course will be defined by the degree to which TREC Fellows produce innovative research approaches and discoveries, thereby accelerating the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based approaches into everyday practice and patient care and improving the health of the population at risk for cancer as well as cancer survivors.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2022 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Professional Development and Education Advances

Track

Medical Education and Professional Development

Sub Track

Education Research

Citation

J Clin Oncol 40, 2022 (suppl 16; abstr 11031)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2022.40.16_suppl.11031

Abstract #

11031

Poster Bd #

222

Abstract Disclosures

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