AbstractOur goal is to recruit train and develop the next generation of leaders in cancer research. To achieve thisobjective we will implement the Integrative Cancer Scholars (ICS) program as described in this competitiverenewal of our long-standing Cancer Biology Training Program. ICS is an innovative predoctoral andpostdoctoral fellows training program that embraces a paired-mentor team approach to maximize the impactand significance of cancer research. Specifically Scholars choose one basic science mentor and one clinicalscience mentor from among nationally competitive basic and physician scientists. From the mentor pair theScholar selects a `lead' mentor from among the faculty with well-funded collaborative research programs with abroad range of cancer research specialties: Genomic and Epigenetic Instability Tumor MicroenvironmentCancer Prevention and Control Developmental Therapeutics Cancer Imaging Tumor Viruses andImmunology Tumor Progression and Metastasis and Cancer Pain. ICS is a unique program with distincttraining events designed to integrate current molecular and clinical cancer concepts. Each Scholar is expectedto conduct original cutting-edge research under the guidance of the mentor-pair and to participate in clinicalcases with their chosen physician mentor. Progress of each trainee is ensured through compulsory committeemeetings and annual evaluations by the mentor-pair. Scholars also participate in career development andnational networking opportunities including hosting thought leaders in our Cancer Biology Seminar Seriesacquiring new targeted skills in educational workshops and community engagement with oncologists andbiotechnology experts. Additionally Scholars are provided support to travel and present their work at a nationalmeeting. ICS is associated with the Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program which providesinstruction in cancer causation epidemiology prevention and grant writing through specific coursework and asymposium featuring presentations of pre- and postdoctoral research. The postdoctoral training plan ensuresthat each trainee navigates a path of comprehensive training leading to a mature scholarship and ability toconduct independent cutting-edge research. The program is designed to expose each trainee to the range ofcurrent thought in the cancer field to teach state-of-the-art laboratory techniques to emphasize critical thinkingskills to introduce real-world aspects of clinical work and to refine their career-development skills particularlyin networking communication and grant/manuscript preparation. Pre- and postdoctoral researchers fromlaboratories of the participating mentors are eligible for ICS support and Scholars are selected through acompetitive process. Support from the UA state-of-the-art research core facilities and opportunities forunderrepresented-minority researchers (UA is top of all Research I institutions for URMs in graduate school)round out a rich environment for training the future leaders of cancer research.