Future Directions for Postdoctoral Training in Cancer Prevention: Insights from a Panel of Experts

Abstract

Cancer prevention postdoctoral fellowships have existed since the 1970s. The National Cancer Institute facilitated a meeting by a panel of experts in April 2013 to consider four important topics for future directions for cancer prevention postdoctoral training programs: 1) future research needs; 2) underrepresented disciplines; 3) curriculum; and 4) career preparation. Panelists proffered several areas needing more research or emphasis, ranging from computational science to culture. Health care providers, along with persons from non-traditional disciplines such as engineers and lawyers, were among disciplines recognized as being underrepresented in training programs. Curriculum suggestions were that fellows receive training in topics such as leadership and human relations, in addition to learning the principles of epidemiology, cancer biological mechanisms, and behavioral science. For career preparation, there was a clear recognition of the diversity of employment options available besides academic positions, and that program leaders should do more to help fellows identify and prepare for different career paths. The major topics and strategies covered at this meeting can help form the basis for cancer prevention training program leaders to consider modifications or new directions, and keep them current with the changing scientific and employment climate for doctoral degree recipients and postdoctoral fellows.

Barriers to a Career Focus in Cancer Prevention: A Report and Initial Recommendations From the American Society of Clinical Oncology Cancer Prevention Workforce Pipeline Work Group

“…The Cancer Prevention Workforce Pipeline Work Group initially reviewed data from the NCI, which in 2013 supported 30 training programs that had cancer prevention as a component. It was not clear how many of these trainees were oncology clinicians, 11 although representatives from the NCI commented that few physicians had enrolled in the NCI Cancer Prevention Fellowship program in the last several years.…”

The Next Generation of Large-Scale Epidemiologic Research: Implications for Training Cancer Epidemiologists

“…To succeed in the emerging transdisciplinary environment, we might need new models of mentoring that enable researchers to work, innovate, and thrive in such settings (19). An NCI-sponsored panel workshop in 2013 on postdoctoral training highlighted the importance of postdoctoral cancer prevention fellowships and stressed the need to revisit the focus and curricula of these programs periodically (20). There is growing recognition that current epidemiologic research initiatives provide exciting opportunities for epidemiologists to launch collaborations with computational biologists, mathematicians, computer scientists, physicists, bioinformaticians, and systems biologists.…”