Vanderbilt Integrated Molecular Oncology Research Training Program (VIMORTP)

Clinical and translational cancer research

The goal of the T32 Vanderbilt Integrated Molecular Oncology Research Training Program (VIMORTP) is to provide individuals with the training, mentorship, and collaborative interactions necessary for them to have successful and independent careers in clinical and translational cancer research.  

Specific aims of the program: 

  • To recruit, support, and develop top-tier junior physician-scientists and clinician-investigators with a strategic translational focus into cancer research 
  • To provide a unique and outstanding translational research training experience with opportunities to develop sufficient knowledge, skills, and expertise to successfully pursue independent investigative careers concentrated on clinical molecular oncology with a focus on training that exploits bench-to-bedside and bedside-to-bench paradigms 
  • To develop skills that support this career, including communication, resiliency, team building, collaborative science, and grant writing/grant management 
  • To prioritize the recruitment of women and underrepresented minority trainees into clinical and molecular translation in oncology and support all aspects of career development necessary for a sustained and highly rewarding career. 

Mentorship and integrated training

Trainees in the Vanderbilt Integrated Molecular Oncology Research Training Program are primarily participating in the adult and pediatric Hematology and Oncology Fellowship programs at VUMC. However, trainees may be eligible from other groups such as gynecologic oncology, dermatology, and pathology, as well as other clinical specialty fields in which a candidate physician is developing a clinical/translational cancer research career.

We strongly encourage integrated projects and training that includes the concept of co-mentorship, particularly in the fields of bioinformatics, genetics, precision medicine, and cancer outcomes and control.

Trainees of the program are expected to participate in the following curriculum: 

  • Mentored research project 
  • Training in principals of molecular oncology and immuno-oncology 
  • Participation in an advanced degree program related to career goals (MSCI, MPH, or equivalent) or at minimum complete the course modules on Biostatistics and Clinical Trial Design 
  • Quarterly programs on communication skills, resiliency, leadership, and strategy 
  • Annual course on grant writing and participation in grant writing studios 
  • Participation in an annual retreat 
  • Participation in weekly Works in Progress Meetings 

Trainees of the VIMORTP program are expected to identify a mentor early in the year prior to the initiation of the award to establish a project plan, identify strategies to rapidly acquire the knowledge base needed to successfully launch their project (e.g., writing a review article, preparing a book chapter), and begin to communicate with collaborators. 

The Program Leadership, Steering Committee, and External Advisory Committee evaluate the program annually. The VIMORTP tracks data regarding the long-term outcomes of trainees. Some of these metrics for evaluation include: 

  • Academic trajectory 
  • Receipt of grant awards 
  • Publications 
  • Time to career development award, time to first corresponding author publication, time to faculty position

The trainee-mentor relationship is critical to the long-term success of the VIMORTP trainee. There are over 45 potential mentors or junior co-mentors for the program. The group has ample diversity to allows for topic and mentoring style choices for trainees. All preceptors have a focus on research, teaching, and training directly relevant to the training program goals.  

Trainees will participate in a project or projects directly related to their mentor's research with the expectation of becoming increasingly independent over time. Trainees are explicitly expected to develop their own ideas, hypotheses, and skill sets, rather than simply accomplishing tasks defined by their preceptor. Creativity and rigorous, critical evaluation of data is emphasized. 

Trainees are encouraged to seek mentorship from one or more of the expert mentors/investigators listed below in the following research niches:


Molecular Oncology

Tim Blackwell, MD

Scott Borinstein, MD, PhD

Richard Caprioli, MD

Jin Chen, MD, PhD

Robert Coffey, MD

Bruce Compass, PhD

David Cortez, PhD

Wonder Drake, MD

Debra Friedman, MD, MS

Scott Hiebert, PhD

Richard Ho, MD, MSCI

Patrick Hu, MD, PhD

Christine Lovly, MD, PhD

Barbara Murphy, MD

Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD

Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD

Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD

Ann Richmond, PhD

William Tansey, PhD

 Alissa Weaver, MD, PhD

Sandra Zinkel, MD, PhD

Therapeutic Development, Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy 

Vandana Abramson, MD

Justin Balko, PhD, PharmD

Jordan Berlin, MD

Kristin Ciombor, MD, MSCI

Cathy Eng, MD 

Douglas Johnson, MD, MSCI

Olalekan Oluwole, MD, MPH

Richard Peek, MD

Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD

Brian Rini, MD

Eben Rosenthal, MD

Michael Savona, MD

C. Henrique Serezani, PhD

John Wilson, PhD

Bioinformatics, Big Data, and Cancer Outcomes 

Melinda Aldrich, MD, PhD

Danield Barocas, MD, MPH

Qiuyin Cai, MD, PhD

Nancy Cox, PhD

Stacie Dusetzina, PhD

Debra Friedman, MD, MS

Kelvin Moses, MD, PhD 

Tuya Pal, MD

David Penson, MD, PhD, MMHC

Xiao Ou Shu, MD, PhD

Yu Shyr, PhD

Georgia Wiesner, MD, MS

Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI

Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD

Wei Zheng, MD, PhD, MPH










The VIMORTP’s External Advisory Committee (EAC) consults, critically reviews, and advises the training program. The EAC was selected to represent highly skilled individuals who are broadly considered to be expert clinician investigators and who additionally have strong skills in mentorship and training program leadership. 

Committee members:

Maureen Su, MD

Chris Flowers, MD

Neil Hayes, MD

Lindsay Frazier, MD

The VIMORTP Steering Committee consists of leaders representing the themes of molecular oncology research at Vanderbilt. This group collaborates to advise the program directors on improving program operations and serves as the selection committee for the identification of trainees. 


Committee members and area of expertise:

Carrie Kitko, MD, Pediatrics 

Christine Lovly, MD, PhD, Thoracic Malignancies 

Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, Precision Oncology 

Michael Debaun, MD, MPH, Pediatrics/Sickle Cell  

Barbara Murphy, MD, Head and Neck Oncology 

Cathy Eng, MD, Surgical and Medical Oncology/GI 

Jeff Rathmell, PhD, Host Tumor Interaction 

Ann Richmond, PhD, Cancer Cell Biology

Jordan Berlin, MD,  GI Program/Phase I 

Michael Savona, MD, Hematologic Malignancies 

Year AppointedNameCredentialsTitle of ProjectCurrent Position
2022Catherine FaheyMDIdentification of autoantibodies in melanoma patient samples in order to understand development of immune related adverse eventsClinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology
2022Eric LanderMDGenomic alterations associated with early-onset and late-onset colorectal cancerClinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology
2022Michael RobinsonMDPediatric/AYA Research of Survivorship in Sarcoma Treatment" (PERSIST)Clinical Fellow, Pediatric Oncology
2021Eden BiltiboMDImpact of daratumumab in the treatment of real-world transplant eligible multiple myeloma patientsClinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology
2020Brian GriebMDSelective Suppression of Ribosomal Protein Gene Transcription as a Novel Therapy in Colorectal CancerClinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology
2020Justin LoMD, PhDAlbumin-binding nanocomplexes for delivery of siRNA therapeutics to cholangiocarcinomaClinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology
2020Sara NunneryMD, MSCI (In Progress)Biomarker analysis of patients with breast cancer receiving immunotherapyClinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology
2020Isik TurkerMDMouse and Human Studies to Assess Long-Term Cardiovascular Sequelae of Immune-Checkpoint InhibitorsClinical Fellow, Cardiovascular Medicine
2019Zhuoyan (Yan) LiMDT cells phenotype and function in the Tumor MicroenvironmentMedical Oncologist, Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute
2019Dilan PatelMDUnderstanding the mechanisms and implications of post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantationAdvanced BMT Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
2019Caroline NebhanMD, PhD(TME) of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)Clinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology
2018Brianna SmithMD, MSLeveraging Epigenetic Modification to Treat MPS/MPN Overlap SyndromesInstructor of Pediatrics, Div. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, VUM
2018Andrew SochackiMDPredicting the Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis to Myelodysplastic SyndromesMedical Oncologist, Grand Rapids Michigan and Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan

Thank you for your interest in submitting a VIMORTP application. Applications are currently closed.

The next deadline for submitting an application is March 1, 2024. 

Eligibility 

Trainees in the VIMORTP are primarily participating in the adult and pediatric Hematology and Oncology Fellowship programs at VUMC. However, trainees may be eligible from other groups such as gynecologic oncology, dermatology, and pathology, as well as other clinical specialty fields in which a candidate physician is developing a clinical/translational cancer research career.  

We strongly encourage integrated projects and training that includes the concept of co-mentorship, particularly in the fields of bioinformatics, genetics, precision medicine, and cancer outcomes and control. 

Guidelines for eligibility of applicants: 

Fellows or residents with at least one year of training and an MD or MD/PhD, or equivalent degree who wish to conduct clinical or translational research and have at least 2 years remaining in training are eligible. Training positions may include fourth year of fellowship. Candidates may be from the adult or pediatric Hematology and Oncology divisions, although candidates in other disciplines may be considered. The applicant(s) should discuss the eligibility, expectations, and benchmarks with the director or associate directors before applying for the award. 

Applicants must have identified a faculty mentor with an established extramurally funded research program who will work closely to facilitate their career development in cancer research. Faculty mentors who are not members of the training faculty will need to submit a letter of commitment and be approved by a majority vote of the Steering Committee prior to the fellow or resident being considered as a candidate. 

The sponsoring clinical department chair must commit to provide 80% research time and $500 per year for participation of the trainee in the annual retreat. 

To apply for the VIMORTP program, the following information is required for the application: 

  1. Biosketch of the applicant and the mentor in the NIH PHS 398 form 
  2. Letter of support from the research mentor outlining the plan for mentoring and timeline to achieve goals 
  3. Two-page research proposal 
  4. Statement on the applicant’s career goals indicating his or her career goals and commitment to a career in cancer research 
  5. Letter from the department chair or division director supporting the applicant’s proposal and the research effort and commitment of $500 toward retreat expenses 

Contact us:

Interested applicants should e-mail the Program Manager, Lucy Shaffer (lucy.d.shaffer@vumc.org) prior to submitting an application.

Interested applicants can set up a meeting with VIMORTP program director Dr. KImryn Rathmell and/or associate program directors Dr. Debra Friedman or Dr. Douglas Johnson to review details of the training program and application process. 

Interested applicants should e-mail the Program Manager, Lucy Shaffer (lucy.d.shaffer@vumc.org) prior to submitting an application.

Program Leadership

Debra Friedman, MD

Professor of Pediatrics
Co-Program Director, VIMORTP

Douglas Johnson, MD, MSCI

Associate Professor of Medicine
Co-Program Director, VIMORTP

Jill Gilbert, MD

Professor of Medicine
Associate Program Director, VIMORTP