Epigenetics, DNA repair and Genomics (EDGe) Training Program in Cancer

Here we propose a new Epigenetics, DNA repair and Genomics (EDGe) Training Program in Cancer to support 4 pre-doctoral students per year. EDGe will take advantage of a thematic interest in the fields of DNA repair and epigenomics and the intersection of these fields in the context of cancer to provide opportunities for

interdisciplinary training and interactions among students and dedicated training faculty. The UTHealth SA's Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) graduate program is interdisciplinary; many students specialize in cancer-related disciplines, including Cancer Biology, Biochemical Mechanisms in Medicine and Cell Biology,

and Genetics and Molecular Medicine. Within these three disciplines in particular, there is a strong interest in both DNA repair and epigenetic control of transcription programs as it relates to cancer biology, though we will not limit to these three disciplines. Another focus is the critically important interface of DNA repair, transcription

regulation, and chromatin organization to elucidate the basis of cancer development and identify potential therapeutic strategies. This T32 training program takes advantage of faculty expertise (25+ experienced mentors), a multi-disciplinary leadership structure, and the availability of a curriculum infrastructure of relevant

topics that can provide cross-disciplinary training in cancer biology for our next generation of cancer biologists. The highly interactive faculty mentors bring training expertise in critical aspects of DNA repair and epigenetics, from biochemical structure/function to cell biology, bioinformatics, and translational approaches. The first two

years of the IBMS graduate program includes completing two years of coursework, both general IBMS courses and core discipline-specific courses. Students will be appointed to the proposed T32 for 2-years, after passing their qualifying exam and following rigorous competitive evaluation and interview. As part of this EDGe Training

Program, we will require trainees to acquire cross-disciplinary training to strengthen their understanding of cancer biology, DNA repair, and epigenetics, including cancer biology core courses and bioinformatics. Trainees will also be required to take an institutional course on responsible conduct of research, be involved in

trainee-organized event planning, and participate in additional enrichment activities, such as the Texas-wide Genome Instability Group seminar series. They will also be expected to participate in T32-specific meetings comprising research-in-progress presentations and to attend the Mays Cancer Center's annual retreat. As a

minority-serving educational institute, diversity training is a major component of our program, seeking to promote recruitment and retention of diverse students while working to enhance outcomes by increasing competitive criteria for selection and augmenting mentoring. EDGe will be evaluated annually by an External

Advisory Committee and quarterly Executive Committee meetings. This T32 proposal has broad institutional support, reflected by financial commitments from the Graduate School, the Long School of Medicine, the Mays Cancer Center and the Office of the Vice President for Research.