Radiation Biology sub-track in Cancer Biology
A specific training sub-track in Cancer Biology, Radiation Biology, has been developed. A didactic course in radiation biology, CABI 715, Introduction to Radiation Biology (3 credit hours) was created in 2003 and is required of trainees following this sub-track. A unique aspect of this course is that in addition to graduate students, it is attended by Radiation Oncology Residents currently in training. The residents take their written boards in the fall of their 4th and final year of training, and are required to pass their boards in clinical radiation oncology, radiation physics, and radiation biology, before taking their oral boards towards the end of their final academic year. Instructing the graduate students and residents together is a powerful tool for the encouragement of translational cancer research, and is particularly useful in giving individuals an appreciation of the respective opportunities and practical limitations faced in the daily laboratory and clinical setting.
Additional training in radiation biology is available through the Radiation Biology Journal Club. This meets twice monthly, and is attended by all members of the Radiation Biology Section, the clinical and radiation physics faculty, and radiation oncology residents. In addition, with the creation of the Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, members of the Brain Tumor Biology Section also participate in this forum. Recent articles from a broad spectrum of cancer research, including radiation and cancer biology, radiation oncology, radiation physics and neurooncology are presented and discussed; each trainee will present an article at least once/year during their research training.
The Radiation Biology Section also meets Thursdays for one hour every 2 weeks, at which time there is a short business meeting followed by a research presentation by a member of the section updating their own research and future goals. Each trainee will present at this forum on an annual basis during their research training.
Postdoctoral Training Program in Translational Radiation Oncology (TRADONC)
The ability to take advantage of the continuing progress in cancer research continues to be limited by the insufficient numbers of basic- and physician-scientists actively engaged in high-quality, translational research in the U.S. This is a particular concern for radiation oncology, where the numbers of physician-scientists and PhDs in radiation biology and radiation physics has decreased significantly over the last decade or so.
Mike Robbins, PhD, Section Head of Radiation Biology, and William Blackstock, MD, Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, successfully submitted a T32 proposal to establish a Postdoctoral Training Program in Translational Radiation Oncology (TRADONC) in the Department of Radiation Oncology. This compliments the Department of Cancer Biology T32 training grant that funds both predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees. TRADONC is funded currently from 07/01/05-06/30/10, with two trainees being recruited each year to complete a three year training program. These six trainees will be two radiation oncology fellows (MDs) who have completed their residency, two postdoctoral basic scientists, and two postdoctoral medical physicists (PhDs). All trainees receive hands-on experience in both basic laboratory cancer research and clinical research, including meeting with patients, under the guidance of a diverse, interdisciplinary faculty. The creation of this unique Training program, which brings together diverse trainees and a very interactive faculty, is a reflection of the collaborative and translational research philosophy engendered by the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Cancer center.