Translational Cancer Research for Basic Scientists Workshop

​Workshop Codirectors:
Ryan B. Corcoran, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
Lisa M. Coussens, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon
Susan Band Horwitz, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
Geoffrey R. Oxnard, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts

An intensive week-long introduction to translational cancer research – including cancer medicine, the clinical cancer research environment, and collaborative team science – for basic scientists who are predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows, early-career scientists, and senior scientists in transition to translational research. 

This workshop is hosted in close collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Cancer Center, comprised of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Boston, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

The Translational Cancer Research for Basic Scientists Workshop provides basic research scientists with essential training to adapt their research for maximum clinical impact and transition into a new career in translational cancer medicine. During the course of the week, attendees learn about the latest methods and approaches in cutting-edge translational cancer research from leading translational scientists in academia, government, and industry. This innovative workshop addresses many aspects of translational research including collaborating on multidisciplinary teams, working effectively with industry partners, recognizing the unique needs and environment of the clinic and clinical laboratories, and navigating regulatory and compliance issues in translational science. This workshop also places a strong emphasis on understanding the perspective of patients and clinicians which allows basic scientists to frame research questions in a broader context. 

Previous workshops consisted of over 25 faculty members providing core didactic lectures, nearly 15 additional healthcare professionals participating as lab/discussion leaders, and more than 35 clinicians supervising offsite visits. We are excited to offer this outstanding educational program again, to promote the professional development of early-career investigators in translational cancer research.

Comments from previous attendees:

• My experience at the workshop will definitely inform the projects I'm putting together now, as well as my long-term career goals.
• It is the single most influential workshop/conference I have attended.
• This has been such an inspirational, informative, and novel experience. I am so grateful for this opportunity to meet the best of the scientists in the field, network with the faculty, and talk to them on a one-on-one basis. It is unimaginable to get this experience in a week. It has helped me to build my network with faculty and my peers and this is going to help me collaborate with them in the future to continue doing excellent translational research. 
• This workshop has definitely altered my thoughts on basic cancer research from doing science to understand biological systems, to doing science with a purpose to understand relevant biological systems.
• I was blown away by the passion, innovation, and diversity of both the teachers and the participants, and it reaffirmed my desire to succeed in this field. It was both realistic but hopeful in every aspect and made all of us look at cancer biology from at least five new perspectives. I feel I have taken an important step to establish myself as a scientist, and build the connections and ideas to effectively contribute to the field.
• This is perhaps the most educational and useful workshop I've been to.
• Keep this workshop going for future researchers.

For further information, please contact Lyngine Calizo, PhD, Assistant Director, at (215) 446-7265 or lyngine.calizo@aacr.org.