Cancer and Blood Diseases Center

Laboratory Research Training

 The object of the training program is to provide PhD and PhD-postdoctoral research experiences and scholarly research training in hematology/oncology, so as to render trainees independent investigators making substantive contributions to biomedical research. The primary goal is to teach fellows how to formulate and answer important research questions.

Trainees will be broadly trained in one of the major basic science disciplines: protein chemistry, molecular biology, developmental biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience or cell biology. Newer areas of focus within the division include embryonic stem cells, somatic cell reprogramming, gene transfer technology, zebrafish, genomics, and high-throughput chemical and shRNA screening. Hematopoiesis research techniques are particularly noteworthy. 

The chosen research project should permit the candidate to use many of the different techniques of a particular discipline.  The program allows the trainee to pick his or her research sponsor and does not require that such sponsors be members of the Division of Hematology/Oncology.

The general philosophy is that training monies are available solely to support the needs of the trainees and not the needs of the division. In our experience this view is not universal. Fellows typically present their work at lab meetings and once or twice per year at floor-wide research meetings. In addition, fellows frequently present their work at national meetings. The overall laboratory research experience approximates that of the intensity of a PhD research experience.