Proposal: A unique Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) in Precision Cancer Medicine (PCM), involving tripartite collaboration between research-intensive institutions with a major focus on cancer in Northern Ireland (NI) and Republic of Ireland (RoI), in partnership with the US National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Background: ALL-CAN-TRAINING builds on the highly-regarded QUB-NCI DTP in Precision Cancer Medicine, whose success can be quantified by eleven prestigious awards to the seven students currently enrolled.
Aim: Create a bespoke training programme which produces high-quality PCM scientists, nurtures sustainable relationships with researchers across the island and with the world-renowned NCI, delivering research with impact.
Objective 1: Empower 30 highly-motivated students to undertake cutting-edge PCM research within a premier tripartite training programme.
Objective 2: Bolster PCM activities across the island and facilitate enhanced collaborations with NCI researchers.
Objective 3: Expose ALL-CAN-TRAINING cohort to PPIE training, empowering their research to deliver patient-relevant impact
Structure: Year (Y) 1: Students complete a research-intensive approved Master’s degree at one of 5 participating institutions, with additional communal activities designed to facilitate cohort building and identity. Y2-4: Students undertake quality PhD training at NCI, under joint supervision (island of Ireland/NCI researchers). Cohort building will be enriched/up-scaled. To promote trans-island as well as trans-Atlantic collaboration, a third supervisor will be nominated from RoI/NI, depending on the first supervisor’s home institution. Tailored training will help develop future leaders who will advance PCM research and its application to cancer care, nationally and globally. Additional to providing unrivalled training, ALL-CAN-TRAINING will promote joint publications/successful grant applications and research with impact between island of Ireland and NCI researchers. We envisage a funded cohort of 5 students per intake (with an additional 5 leveraged students per year from RoI/NI institutions), recruiting three successive intakes, at which stage we will review ALL-CAN-TRAINING for quality, impact, value-of-investment and partnership development.
