We propose to establish a unique collaborative Biomedical Informatics, Genomics, and Translational Cancer Research Training Program (BIG-TCR), located at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). BIG-TCR will aim to provide a highly interactive, innovative, and interdisciplinary training environment to train the next-generation cancer researchers and leaders, by leveraging UTHealth’s strong research programs in cancer biology, stem cell biology, pharmacology and drug discovery, genomics and other omics programs, data science, artificial intelligence, clinical informatics and translational medicine. BIG-TCR will have three training components: a PhD program (total 1...

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We propose to establish a unique collaborative Biomedical Informatics, Genomics, and Translational Cancer Research Training Program (BIG-TCR), located at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). BIG-TCR will aim to provide a highly interactive, innovative, and interdisciplinary training environment to train the next-generation cancer researchers and leaders, by leveraging UTHealth’s strong research programs in cancer biology, stem cell biology, pharmacology and drug discovery, genomics and other omics programs, data science, artificial intelligence, clinical informatics and translational medicine. BIG-TCR will have three training components: a PhD program (total 15 trainees, including MD/PhD trainees), a postdoctoral program (total 14 trainees), and an undergraduate summer internship program (total 60 trainees). By leveraging the existing training programs at the six UTHealth schools, including the only free-standing school dedicated to biomedical informatics in the US (the School of Biomedical Informatics, SBMI), BIG-TCR trainees will not only meet a competency-based training requirement, but also gain unique hands-on skills in informatics, data science, drug discovery, and other technologies. BIG-TCR will be supported by experienced leaders and 36 well-funded cancer investigators, including 7 CPRIT scholars, 4 CPRIT core directors, and 19 faculty funded by CPRIT grants. Innovation from the BIG-TCR Training Program will include the combination of didactic course work, formalized laboratory and informatics core rotations, dual-mentorship, covering both informatics and wet lab research environments, and a series of career development activities. Our unique informatics programs at SBMI will assist these trainees to be empowered with state-of-the-art informatics and data science technologies, which will accelerate the paradigm-shifting cancer research and translational cancer medicine.

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