Training & Education
Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC)
The University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center supports multidisciplinary education and training in the context of CU Cancer Center’s research and clinical mission through the development of novel programs, active participation in the training of mentees across a broad spectrum of educational stages including middle and high school students, undergraduates, post-baccalaureates, graduate students, medical students, residents, and fellows. We also provide career development activities for junior faculty (referred to as mentored members) and cancer-focused educational and training activities for cancer center members.
We place a major emphasis on the integration of training and education activities with cutting-edge basic, population, and clinical cancer research undertakings. Furthermore, in close collaboration with the CU Cancer Center Community Engagement and Outreach Office, we put a unique focus on including and recruiting underrepresented populations to participate in education and training activities.
Mission, Vision, & Goals
Mission
Serve and improve the care of cancer patients by fostering the careers of cancer care providers, new investigators, and aspiring young scientists in cancer research, population science, and clinical care.
Vision
Educating and training the next generation of innovative leaders in translational, basic, clinical, and population science-related cancer research will conquer cancer.
Our Goals
Training & Education Opportunities
CRTEC is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists. Click below to find out more about our K-12 programming that provides exposure and real-world experiences for young students in the cancer biology field.
CRTEC’s education and training initiatives for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students engage scientific curiosity in the next generation by providing opportunities for students to explore future careers in cancer research while fueling the biomedical research pipeline. Click below to find out more about our undergraduate and post-baccalaureate programming.
CRTEC supports the education and training of graduate, medical, and postdoctoral students through the organization and facilitation of the Cancer Symposium Seminars and Colloquiums, dissemination of relevant training and grant opportunities, assisting with cancer-relevant training grants, and providing funding for training courses and innovation grants. Click below to learn more about the programming for graduate, medical, and post-doctoral students.
CRTEC supports Junior Faculty, referred to as Mentored Members, by organizing and facilitating the Cancer Symposium Seminars and Colloquiums, providing quarterly meetings and workshops, assisting with grant writing, and dissemination of grant and training opportunities. Click below to learn more about programming for mentored members.
The Cancer Center hosts a symposium series each week during the fall and spring semesters that is organized and facilitated by CRTEC. In these symposiums, our Cancer Center members and students, learn about current research occurring in the field of Cancer Biology. Scientists from the CU Cancer Center in addition to distinguished researchers brought in from across the nation present their research at the seminars.
These CME-accredited seminars are held on Tuesdays from 12:00 - 1:00 pm MST in either a virtual or hybrid format as a live web conference with a Q&A session during the last 15 minutes. When COVID restrictions allow, pizza lunch is provided for those attending in person.
For the schedule of the upcoming Cancer Symposium Seminars:
Can’t attend a symposium session you are interested in? Most of the symposium sessions are recorded (with permission of the speaker) and posted on the Cancer Center Symposium Series YouTube Channel.
Training & Education Latest News
PIKE-PREP Supports Scholars
The newly established PREP program aims to help prepare participants for admission to MD/PhD or PhD programs. Xander Bradeen, pictured along with his research mentor Dr. Eduardo Davila, is a member of the first cohort in the Preparation in Interdisciplinary Knowledge to Excel - Post Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PIKE-PREP) which offers a multi-dimensional mentoring and research training experience for post-baccalaureate students from underrepresented communities.
Applications for the 2023-2024 cohort are open until March 30th, 2023.
Cancer Center Student Symposium (C2S2)
The kick off of the Cancer Center Student Symposium (C2S2) was a huge success as Cancer Center Director, Dr. Richard Schulick, presented on cancer, cancer careers, his path and commitment to fighting cancer, and the importance of finding a mentor to nearly 50 Colorado high school students. C2S2 was created by the CRTEC office to connect the CU - Cancer Center with Colorado high school students and teachers through a monthly virtual symposium on cancer-focused topics. Want to learn more or register to attend?
New CC2STEM Program Awarded the CU-President’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Award
In collaboration with the CU-AMC student chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native American Scientists (SACNAS), CRTEC was awarded a CU-President’s DEI award to fund a pilot of the CC2STEM program which will offer a summer mentoring and research training experience to local community college students interested in investigating a future career in the biomedical sciences. The program is led-by Katia Nino, a graduate student Dr. Eric Pietras’ Lab, with administrative support and mentorship from CRTEC leaders and will begin in the summer of 2023. After the pilot year, CRTEC will seek external funding to continue and expand the program.
Oncology Summer Internship
Recently, three second year University of Colorado School of Medicine students, Chiagoziem (Chi) Anigbogu, Luis Barrientos and Theresa Tafoya, presented their CU Oncology Summer Internship (OSI) research projects to a panel at the CU Cancer Center. The 6-week CU Oncology Summer Internship (OSI) at the CU Cancer Center, is an immersive, paid summer internship for rising second year medical students from populations underrepresented in medicine (UIM). The internship features shadowing, education, networking and mentoring experiences designed to help students explore their interests in oncology, patient care and careers as an oncologist. Based on the success of this internship we plan to expand the program to include more students next year and going forward.
Diversity in Cancer Research Program Hosts Undergraduate Students for Hands-On Experience at CU Cancer Center
The 10-week American Cancer Society (ACS) Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR) internship program at the University of Colorado Cancer Center wrapped up in July. DICR is an ACS program that aims to support students from traditionally underrepresented minorities in cancer research and mentorship. CU Cancer Center members Jennifer Richer, PhD, professor of pathology in the CU School of Medicine, and John Tentler, PhD, associate professor of medical oncology, are co-leaders on the grant.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation Grant Recipient
Congratulations to Dr. Eman Elsabbagh, MD, MSc. Dr. Elsabbagh is a Pediatric Hem/Onc Fellow in the Center of Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children’s Hospital Colorado, on the AMC. She is the recipient of the highly competitive St. Baldrick's Foundation Grant to develop a “Universal T-Cell Receptor (TCR) Targeting Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia”. St. Baldrick’s Foundation funds promising research aimed at treating childhood cancers globally. She is mentored by Dr. Eduardo Davila in Med-Onc.
CRTEC Leadership
Eduardo Davila, PhD
Program Co-Director
Adela Cota-Gomez, PhD
Assistant Director for Education Administration
Education and Outreach
Program Developer
Lexi Bauer
Student Assistant