Viral Oncology Training Grant

Former Trainees  Former Training Faculty

The purpose of the Viral Oncology Research Training Program was to provide training at the pre- and postdoctoral levels in the general field of molecular virology with an emphasis on the molecular biology of tumor viruses and oncogenes. Faculty members in various academic departments at Duke University Medical Center, working in the areas of molecular virology, viral and molecular oncology, and viral vector-based cancer vaccine therapeutics, constituted the program faculty. These faculty members trained graduate students and postdoctoral fellows supported by a variety of mechanisms including institutional research training programs, research grants, and individual pre- and postdoctoral fellowships.

In addition to research mentoring, the program served to train the next generation of virologists and cancer biologists with various professional development opportunities throughout the year. These opportunities included the joint Duke-UNC Symposium on Viral Oncology and AIDS Malignancy in the fall and the Minisymposium on Pathogenic Human Viruses in the spring. Predoctoral trainees enrolled in the Virology and Viral Oncology graduate course (MGM552) during the spring. A monthly journal club, organized by students and postdoctoral fellows, was offered throughout the year in addition to monthly happy hours and works-in-progress seminars offered in conjunction with the Duke Center for Virology.

Benefits
Each post-doctoral trainee who entered the Viral Oncology research training program received an NIH-level stipend commensurate with his or her years of post-doctoral experience, health insurance for the trainee and his or her family, annual travel funds to attend scientific meetings, and a small supply budget.

Predoctoral trainees were supported during the second year of graduate school if they have selected a mentor who is a member of the training faculty and are selected by the executive committee of the training program. These students were also be eligible to apply for travel stipends during the training period and received a small supply budget.

Summary of Trainee Accomplishments
Trainees in this program have achieved myriad accomplishments.  Follow this link for a summary of past trainees listed by mentor.