My career goal is to become an expert clinical investigator in the field of cellular immunotherapy of hematologic malignancies. To this end, along with my mentorship committee, I have tailored career development goals to be achieved in the next five years while executing a three aim research plan that includes two new investigator-initiated cellular immunotherapy clinical trials. First, I aim to become proficient at cellular therapy protocol development. To achieve this goal, I will acquire formal training in trial design, biostatistics and bioinformatics, and experiential learning while preparing protocols for my proposed clinical trials as well as aspects of data collection and quality con...

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My career goal is to become an expert clinical investigator in the field of cellular immunotherapy of hematologic malignancies. To this end, along with my mentorship committee, I have tailored career development goals to be achieved in the next five years while executing a three aim research plan that includes two new investigator-initiated cellular immunotherapy clinical trials. First, I aim to become proficient at cellular therapy protocol development. To achieve this goal, I will acquire formal training in trial design, biostatistics and bioinformatics, and experiential learning while preparing protocols for my proposed clinical trials as well as aspects of data collection and quality control during the conduct of each trial. Second, I aim to advance the field of cancer immunotherapy through clinical research. Here, I propose to translate promising preclinical projects to early phase clinical trials (Aims 1 and 3 of the research plan) through new and existing “benchside” collaborations. Finally, I aim to serve as an independent IND holder for my institution (the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy) by the end of the proposed funding period. To achieve this goal, I will seek both formal and informal regulatory training at CAGT and also as an “observer”” at the FDA. In summary, I believe that I am ideally suited for the CPRIT Early Career Clinical Investigator Award because I am a junior faculty, supported by a team of accomplished mentors at a reputable research center, who is pursuing a career in clinical investigation of novel treatments developed by scientists at my institution. So, if my application is successful, I plan to utilize this Award to address those gaps in my education and experience thus far, that I would require in order to become an independent clinical investigator.

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