PATH: Preparing Aspiring Translational Hematology/Oncology Fellows

Bridging the Clinic and the Bench: An Immersive Translational Cancer Research Program for Clinical Fellows

The PATH Fellows program is an intensive, 2–3-month training opportunity designed to equip clinical fellows with hands-on and conceptual expertise in translational cancer research. This program directly addresses the critical need to accelerate the transfer of scientific discoveries into patient care, allowing fellows to gain the skills necessary to become physician-scientists who can successfully bridge the clinic and the laboratory.

Program Structure and Time Commitment

The pilot program is intentionally flexible; fellows may propose a training period that best aligns with their existing fellowship schedules, with no fixed start or end date during this phase. The program culminates in high-value academic outputs that launch the fellow's research career.

The Program follows a clear, structured progression (Example 10-Week Timeline):

  • Project Initiation (Weeks 1–3): Orientation, mentor matching, project planning, lab onboarding, and introductory core workshops.
  • Hands-on Research (Weeks 4–7): Focused experimental work, including preclinical model experiments, data collection, and correlative science assays.
  • Analysis & Dissemination (Weeks 8–10): Data integration and interpretation, drafting of the abstract and review article, final institutional presentation, and submission.

Focused Training in Translational Excellence

Fellows are matched with a mentor based on their research interests and will gain experience in the full cycle of translational science. The research experience is rigorous, focusing on cutting-edge techniques and translational applications across basic, preclinical, and data science.

Fellows maintain close contact with their research team through mandatory weekly one-on-one meetings with the primary mentor. To promote shared learning and diverse perspectives, the program also requires monthly joint mentor group meetings. Fellows are fully integrated into the Karmanos research community through participation in the Translational Research Seminars and faculty-led "Bench-to-Bedside" case discussions.

Meet the Mentors: The core faculty includes

Core Research and Training Components:

  1. Preclinical and Laboratory Methods: Hands-on work with small molecule inhibitor development, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and organoid models, and advanced techniques like spatial transcriptomics.
  2. Therapeutic Development and Mechanisms: Research focused on cancer stem cell biology, therapeutic resistance mechanisms, and immunotherapeutic evaluation in preclinical systems.
  3. Data and Correlative Science: Direct training in tissue processing, biobanking, imaging, histopathology for biomarker analysis, and utilizing existing clinical trial samples for correlative endpoints.

Key Program Benefits and Financial Support

The program provides substantial financial support: $3,000–$4,000 per fellow is allocated for lab expenses, covering reagents, assays, correlative analyses, and preclinical model costs. Additionally, fellows receive funding for travel and registration to present their program research at major national conferences. For non-local participants, up to $5,000 may be available as a housing stipend to ensure accessibility.

High-Impact Career Deliverables

To maximize the career impact of the program and provide a robust foundation for future funding, fellows are required to produce the following high-value research outputs:

  • Research Abstract: Submitted to a major national conference (ASH or ASCO).
  • Review Article: Co-authored with the mentor for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
  • Research Proposal: Development of a full proposal for a future career development award (NIH K-series or equivalent).
  • Oral Presentation: Presentation of program research at the institutional Translational Research Symposium.

Eligibility & Requirements

Eligibility is limited to current U.S. GME fellows in oncology or closely related specialties. While the program is open to all eligible fellows, we highly encourage third-year fellows to apply, as this period often provides the most protected time for dedicated research.

Applicants must demonstrate professionalism, strong research engagement, and readiness to meet institutional onboarding requirements. Fellows will remain under their home GME program but will complete necessary onboarding (e.g., GME verification, credentialing, and CITI safety modules) via WSU/Karmanos Cancer Institute for research participation.

Any questions can be sent to the Office of Cancer Research, Training, and Education Coordinator at Karmanos Cancer Institute CRTEC@karmanos.org

Apply here