Graduate Training in Hematology Research (T32)
The most common forms of childhood cancer are cancers of the hematopoietic system including leukemias and lymphomas. Dramatic advances in survival of these cancers have occurred throughout the past 50 years based on the results of both clinical and basic science research in hematology.
The University of Rochester has had very strong programs in hematology, and as a result of this depth has had an NIH T32 training grant for graduate training in hematology research continuously funded for more than 30 years. The program is currently led by Charles Francis, M.D., of the Department of Medicine and Craig Mullen, M.D., Ph.D., of the Department of Pediatrics. Currently, four post-doctoral fellows (either M.D.s or Ph.D.s) and two Ph.D. students are supported through this program. The program faculty and the trainees are drawn from Pediatrics, Medicine and basic science departments. Projects range from basic science to population-based studies. The majority of the projects involve study of hematological malignancies, but the scope of the program also includes nonmalignant hematology. Many of the labs are involved in collaborative projects and interactions are fostered by monthly meetings of the Experimental Hematology Program.