A Translational Approach to Cancer Research, Education and Training

The demand for biomedical researchers and health science professionals has increased over the past several decades. This need is particularly acute in the fields of cancer research and oncology in which technological advances have fueled an unprecedented pace of laboratory discoveries and their applications in novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Internships that expose undergraduate students to cancer research and patient care serve an important function in meeting this need by educating trainees about careers in this field and inspiring them to pursue these professional paths. Moreover, the translational impetus of cancer research incorporates research, regulatory, business, and clinical components, providing students with even more cancer-focused career options. With the goal of providing hands-on experiences in cancer research and oncology to undergraduate students who comprise the next generation of cancer physician-scientists and will fill this demand in our professional workforce, the Nathan Schnaper Intern Program in Translational Cancer Research (NSIP) has grown from a small laboratory-based local summer internship to a competitive national program. In this study, we evaluate three new modules of the NSIP research, education, and clinical components that have been implemented in the first 2 years of National Cancer Institute Cancer Research Education Grants Program funding. The impact of these modules on intern satisfaction, learning, and near-term career trajectory is assessed to identify the most effective approaches and key measures of program outcomes.