The TRAINE Program for Networking T32 Cancer Prevention Fellows Across Institutions: a Preliminary Report

Developing a well-connected research workforce is essential for advancing cancer research. While National Institutes of Health T32 programs provide foundational training, opportunities for cross-institutional networking and mentorship remain limited. To address these gaps, six Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC)-focused T32 programs created the Trainee Research Acceleration through Information and Networking Exchange (TRAINE) program. TRAINE is a multi-institutional collaboration designed to facilitate structured exchange visits where predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees engage with faculty and peers at a partner institution. The program focuses on three core objectives: expanding professional networks, fostering research collaborations, and improving scientific communication through a practice research presentation. TRAINE was primarily conceptualized as a virtual program; however, in-person visits were incorporated when feasible and aligned with trainee and site preferences. During the program's first two years, 19 CPC fellows participated in TRAINE. Post-visit surveys indicated high satisfaction, with trainees citing the value of external faculty feedback, networking with peers, job talk practice, and exposure to other research environments. All respondents recommended the program to peers. TRAINE represents a practical, scalable model for enhancing professional development, offering a novel approach to strengthening the pipeline of early-career investigators in cancer prevention and control. This manuscript provides an overview of the first two years of the TRAINE program.