Cancer Research Training & Education
Supporting the next generation of cancer doctors and scientists
Cancer Research, Training, and Education Goals
Inspire
Inspire the next generation of cancer scientists and clinicians.
Train
Train a new generation of cancer scientists and clinicians through cancer research training and educational programs.
Mentor
Mentor and support the career development of current faculty members.
By the Numbers
Inspire
Science on Wheels: Bringing Discovery to Vermont’s Rural Schools
This year saw the launch of our Community Outreach & Education van, including its customized BioMobile Discovery Lab—a state-of-the-art laboratory built into a traveling van that will visit rural Vermont schools. Equipped with advanced tools like an epifluorescence microscope, the lab gives students hands-on experience with cancer research and STEM learning opportunities that are often unavailable in rural settings. The program will also connect educators through workshops and support students with mentoring to inspire tomorrow’s scientists.
SciArt: Cancer Research on the Canvas
Can art connect us to science? That was the question posed by SciArt, a collaboration between UVMCC and UVM College of Arts and Sciences where students created paintings inspired by real cancer research images. The project produced 30 original works that were displayed in our clinics and auctioned to benefit both partners. By blending creativity with science, SciArt sparked dialogue among patients, clinicians, and researchers while inspiring future collaborations.
SciArt: Cancer Research on the Canvas
Can art connect us to science? That was the question posed by SciArt, a collaboration between UVMCC and UVM College of Arts and Sciences where students created paintings inspired by real cancer research images. The project produced 30 original works that were displayed in our clinics and auctioned to benefit both partners. By blending creativity with science, SciArt sparked dialogue among patients, clinicians, and researchers while inspiring future collaborations.
2025 Careers in Cancer Day
On April 15, 2025, 90 high school students from five Vermont schools attended UVMCC’s third annual Careers in Cancer program. The day featured lab tours, career panels, and interactive sessions designed to spark interest in science and medicine—an effort to address the region's critical shortage of oncology professionals. The impact of Careers in Cancer is clear: 98% of participants said they would recommend the program to a friend.
Train
Summer Research Fellowship
Each summer, UVM Cancer Center’s longstanding student research program brings energy and innovation to our labs. This year was no exception. From a competitive pool of 47 applicants, 20 students were selected to receive $4,000 stipends to deepen their research experience under the mentorship of our faculty. Two of these scholars—medical student Sara Santagostino and graduate student Israel Odekunle—earned the distinguished Juckett Summer Fellowship, which recognizes their exceptional promise as cancer researchers.
Trainee Exchange Program
This year, CRTEC launched a new trainee exchange program with the Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Wisconsin. The program brings one trainee from each center to the partner institution to share research, spark new scientific conversations, and grow their professional network. In 2025, UVMCC Juckett Summer Fellow Israel Odekunle (pictured) headed to Wisconsin to present at the Cancer Trainee Research Symposium in September. In return, Carbone trainee Zoe Walts visited UVM and spent the day with the Population Sciences and Cancer Outcomes research program, connecting with faculty and trainees across campus.
Trainee Spotlights
Mentor
Emerging Leaders Corps
Launched this year, the Emerging Leaders Corp (ELC) empowers early-career investigators and sparks collaboration across research programs. This initiative connects rising scientists through regular meetings that foster ideas-sharing, networking, and cross-disciplinary partnerships across UVMCC. Members serve as liaisons to their home programs while receiving dedicated support to grow their leadership skills and advance their careers.
Grant Review Pipeline
The Cancer Research, Training & Education team launched a new program to help early‑ and mid‑career researchers strengthen their grant proposals by offering quick, early feedback on ideas. Called Quick‑PEEC (Peer/Expert Early Critiques), this service works hand‑in‑hand with community input and an external pre‑review program to support investigators as they shape strong, competitive applications.
Cross-disciplinary Seminars on the Science and Treatment of Cancer (CroSSTOC)
CroSSTOC is a new center‑wide seminar series that convenes UVM Cancer Center's community to hear from leading voices across cancer research, clinical care, education, and community outreach. By highlighting multidisciplinary experts, the series inspires collaboration and strengthens connections among clinicians, researchers, and trainees.
Rural Health and Cancer Conference
Closing the Rural Health Gap
From June 19–21, 2025, UVM Cancer Center hosted 72 health science professionals from across the country for its inaugural Rural Health and Cancer Conference (RHCC) in downtown Burlington. With more than a dozen expert speakers and interactive sessions, the event created a powerful forum for sharing strategies to improve cancer care and patient outcomes in rural communities. This first-of-its-kind gathering sparked collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to closing the rural health gap.
Pictured: RHCC keynote speaker Marquita Wenonah Lewis, Ph.D., assistant director of Community Outreach and Engagement, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
Team Members
Jessica Lalime
Assistant Director, Graduate and Faculty Program Manager: Seminar Series
Hanna Snyder
Assistant Director, High School and Undergraduate Research and Education Program Manager: Careers in Cancer