Program Requirements

• The National Cancer Institute requires that all training provided by the CPCTP be interdisciplinary in nature and under the direction of each trainee’s dual mentors. Under this requirement, CPCTP trainees will develop novel research projects or engage in ongoing cancer prevention and control research projects of their degree programs or the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. To satisfy CPCTP requirements, trainees’ projects must be interdisciplinary and focus on areas that are relevant to cancer prevention and control.
• Pre-doctoral trainees need to complete the curricula outlined by their respective departments.
• All pre- and post-doctoral trainees are expected to register for NTR728 (3 credit hours) Cancer Prevention and Control Seminar in both the fall and spring semesters for the duration of their fellowship.
• All pre- and post-doctoral trainees are expected to complete Responsible Conduct of Research (GRD 717 or equivalent, i.e., HCO670, NGR752, HCO 630, PY 701, or HB 641)
• All pre- and post-doctoral trainees are required to attend and encouraged to submit abstracts to the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Annual Research Retreat convened in the fall of each year.
• All post-doctoral trainees are required to prepare an NIH grant (K99/R00 or R03) and undergo a Mock review during their fellowship. Pre-docs are encouraged to prepare an F32 or equivalent.
• All pre- and post-doctoral trainees are required to submit Individual Development Plans (IDPs) on a semi-annual basis to their primary and secondary mentors and to T32 Co-directors.  All trainees will be expected to present these plans to the External Advisory Board during annual site visits.

Additional Experiences

• All pre- and post-doctoral trainees are encouraged to attend on-campus seminars offered through the cancer center and the centers for aging, nutrition and obesity, and clinical and translational science.
• Suggested elective courses are: NUR730 (Grant Writing); EPI713 (Study Designs for Cancer Epidemiology and Control); GBS769 (Carcinogenesis) or GBS770 (Pathobiology of Cancer).
• All pre- and post-doctoral trainees are encouraged to submit abstracts and attend at least one national scientific conference annually.
• All pre- and post-doctoral trainees are encouraged to publish heavily during their fellowship experience. The average number of peer-reviewed publications for CTCTP pre-doctoral fellows has been seven (average of four first-authored publications), and for our post-doctoral fellows, the average number was been 16 (average of six first-authored publications).