Career Enhancement Program
Directors
Diane C. Bodurka, M.D.
Karen Lu, M.D.
The Career Enhancement Program (CEP) is designed to identify, recruit and mentor both junior and established scientists, including investigators from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds, for performing translational research in endometrial cancer. Fellowship training for physicians in gynecologic oncology and gynecologic pathology usually emphasizes clinical care and clinical trials. Few graduates of such programs receive training that allows them to develop independent laboratory or translational research programs. Likewise, research specifically related to endometrial cancer is not well-represented in the basic sciences. Thus, there is a shortage of physician-scientists and basic scientists working in endometrial cancer research.
Investigators supported under this Program will develop new innovative ideas that can improve prevention, diagnosis or treatment of endometrial cancer. Enhancing the development of innovative translational researchers in endometrial cancer is critically dependent on the availability of flexible funding for career enhancement projects.
The purpose of the Endometrial SPORE Career Enhancement Program (CEP) is to identify and develop such translational research investigators. The CEP is designed to encourage investigators to develop translational research projects that will ultimately lead to clinically testable hypotheses. Both clinical and laboratory-based researchers are eligible for funding providing that they propose projects that are translational in nature. Funding will be limited to a maximum of $50,000 per year per project, and two or more projects will be funded each year. Funding for additional projects may be provided from institutional commitment and philanthropic funds from the Uterine Cancer Research Program at MD Anderson. Awards will be for one year, and awardees will be given the option to competitively renew for one additional year. All awardees are required to attend meetings of the SPORE program, including the annual external advisory board meeting, and are encouraged to present their research at a national scientific conference (e.g., AACR, ASCO), which provides both educational and networking opportunities.
Development of investigators in the CEP will be accomplished by fulfilling the following specific aims:
Aim 1. Recruit, support and retain diverse investigators with innovative translational approaches for improving endometrial cancer prevention and treatment.
Aim 2. Educate CEP awardees in up-to-date principles of endometrial cancer biology and clinical care with an emphasis on translational science.
Aim 3. Integrate the CEP investigators into existing Endometrial Cancer SPORE projects, with the aim of ultimately developing an independent research program in endometrial cancer.
Aim 4. Support career enrichment activities by providing opportunities for research presentations with feedback, networking activities, and financial support for attending national scientific conferences.
Funding Information
- Solicitations for proposals come out late spring/early summer each year.
- Funding is for $50,000 total costs.
- Funding is for one year beginning Sept. 1 and ending Aug. 31 each year.
- A mentor must be contacted prior to submission of proposals/pre-applications.
- A progress report will be due at the end of the funding period.
- Competitive renewal for one additional year is allowed.
Solicitations for proposals will be posted to this webpage. You may also contact the SPORE Principal Investigators for further information (see contact information page).
Career Development Awards
2003-2004
- Jubilee Brown, M.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Analysis of racial and ethnic differences in endometrial cancers - Limin Gong, Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Study of MR-1 in human endometrial cancer cells
2004-2005
- Limin Gong, Ph.D. (Renewal)
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Study of MR-1 in human endometrial cancer cells - Brian Slomovitz, M.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Clinical and translational evaluation of mTOR inhibition for the treatment of endometrial carcinoma
2005-2006
- Jennifer Richer, Ph.D.
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
ZEB1 in endometrial cancer - Salama A. Salama, Ph.D.
UT Medical Branch
Catechol estrogens and estrogen-metabolizing genes in endometrial cancer
2006-2007
- Lei Deng, Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
EIG121 as a molecular switch for endometrial carcinoma differentiation - Jae-Wook Jeong, Ph.D.
Baylor College of Medicine
The role of ERRFI1 in the tumorigenesis of endometrial cancer
2007-2008
- Jae-Wook Jeong, Ph.D.
Baylor College of Medicine
The role of Mig-6 in the tumorigenesis of endometrial cancer - Jinping Li, M.D., Ph.D.
Mayo Clinic/Mercer University
Tumor promoting activity of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in endometrial cancer progression - Shannon N. Westin, M.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Use of estrogen-regulated transcripts to predict response to intrauterine progesterone therapy in early endometrial disease
2008-2009
- Bryan T. Hennessy, M.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Targeting the PI3K Signaling Pathway in Endometrial Carcinoma
2010-2011
- Adrienne S. McCampbell, Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
The Role of AdipoR1 in Obesity Related Endometrial Proliferation and Cancer - Pamela T. Soliman, M.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
The Prevalence of Endometrial Abnormalities in Obese Women: An Evaluation of Molecular Markers
2011-2012
- Shannon Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.
Baylor College of Medicine
The Role of Pten and Dicer in Uterine Cancer Development - Ann H. Klopp, M.D., Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Visceral Adipose Stem Cells in the Endometrial Cancer Microenvironment
2012-2013
- Ann H. Klopp, M.D., Ph.D. (Renewal)
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Visceral Adipose Stem Cells in the Endometrial Cancer Microenvironment - Han Liang, Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
The Role of RNA Editing in Endometrial Tumorgenesis - Yuexin Liu, Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Molecular Classification of Endometrioid Carcinomas via Integrated Analysis
2013-2014
- Han Liang, Ph.D. (Renewal)
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
The Role of RNA Editing in Endometrial Tumorgenesis - Yuexin Liu, Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Identification of Molecular Biomarkers for Predicting High-Stage Endometrioid-type Endometrial Carcinomas - Yunfei Wen, Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Therapeutic Opportunities Through Blockade of Malignant Prolactin in Endometrial Carcinoma
2014-2015
- Jessica Bowser, Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Loss of CD73-Generated Adenosine Abrogates the Physiological Reflex to Re-form Cell-Cell Adhesions in Endometrial Carcinomas - Pamela Constantinou Papadopolous, Ph.D.
Rice University
Developing a Preclinical Platform for Targeting Heterogeneity in Endometrial Cancer - WeiTing Cheung, Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Targeting PTEN Hotspot Mutations in Endometrial Cancer
2016-2017
- Jessica Bowser, Ph.D. (Renewal)
UT Health Science Center at Houston
Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Endometrial Cancer (Renewal) - Pamela Constantinou Papadopoulos, Ph.D. (Renewal)
Rice University
A 3D Preclinical Model for Studying Endometrial Cancer (Renewal)
2017-2018
- Jae-Il Park, Ph.D.
UT MD AndersonCancer Center
Molecular Targeting of Wnt Signaling Amplifier for Endometrial Cancer Treatment - Tae Hoon Kim, Ph.D.
Michigan State University
Progesterone Resistance and Developing Non-surgical Therapy for Endometrial Hyperplasia
2018-2019
- Jae-Il Park, Ph.D. (Renewal)
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Molecular Targeting of Wnt Signaling Amplifier for Endometrial Cancer Treatment (Renewal)
2019-2020
- Chi Lam Au Yeung, Ph.D.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Targeting DRD2 signaling network by novel imipridone ONC206 in uterine serous cancer treatment - Brooke Howitt, M.D.
Stanford University School of Medicine
Clinical Impact of Molecular Classification of Endometrial Carcinoma - Tae Hoon Kim, Ph.D.
Michigan State University
Progesterone resistance and developing non-surgical therapy for endometrial hyperplasia