Professional Development Core

The Professional Development Core (PDC) seeks to build an integrated program of education and career development focused on the following:

Developing early-stage investigators that will understand how to work in interdisciplinary teams and maintain long-lasting collaborations with clinical and basic scientists
Providing training for practicing community clinicians so they can then become effective collaborators in research projects
Providing scholars with professional development activities (curricula) that will aid them in becoming competitive for extramural funding and building them into the next generation of mentors
Providing mentors with training in communication, expectations, independence, team science, and inclusiveness

The PDC welcomes applications for the following funding mechanisms:

DaCCoTA Scholars Program

The purpose of this award is to stimulate the development of new Clinical and Translational Research (CTR) investigators. Applications are expected to address cancer-related CTR and can consider the multilevel manifestations of cancer (e.g. neurological, psychiatric), demographic risks, and social impact. Each awardee will receive salary support (50% FTE plus fringe) that guarantees a minimum of 50% protected research time for the project. The DaCCoTA will provide the first three years of funding, and the final two years will be funded by the applicant’s home institution (contingent on adequate progress). The awardee will also receive up to $50,000 in annual research support for up to 5 years. Individuals that have had or currently hold an NIH R01 award are not eligible for the program. Individuals who already have project funding (PI role) through an NIH IDeA program also are not eligible. A maximum budget of $160,000 is allowed, and indirect costs must be deducted from the award if the applicant’s institution warrants such removal. The DaCCoTA Scholars Program offers both a basic and community engagement track, and early career faculty are encouraged to apply.

RFA for the DaCCoTA Basic Scholars Program

Letter of Intent Deadline: April 15th, 2020
Application Deadline: May 27th, 2020
Anticipated Award Period: September 2020 – August 2023

RFA for the DaCCoTA Community Engagement Scholars Program

Letter of Intent Deadline: April 15th, 2020
Application Deadline: May 27th, 2020
Anticipated Award Period: September 2020 – August 2023

Clinical Research Opportunities Program

This program provides 20% release time (up to NIH cap) to community-practicing, hospital-based clinicians to allow for participation in training activities and collaboration in cancer-focused CTR. The goal of the program is to begin to shift translational cancer research in the Upper Midwest to an enterprise informed by the patient.

The current NIH salary cap is $192,300 or $38,460 plus fringe benefits for 20% release time. Individuals may negotiate any difference between this salary amount and actual salary with their home institution. Although these awards are intended to provide 20% support for 2 years, the duration can be shortened or extended, and the % effort will be adjusted accordingly. Applications are welcome that consider the multilevel manifestations of cancer (e.g. neurological, psychiatric), demographic risks, and social impact.

It is not intended that supported individuals will become full-time, independent investigators with funding for their own research projects. However, it is expected that providing an understanding of CTR and tools for identifying unmet medical needs will allow trained clinicians to become effective collaborators. Individuals may collaborate with both clinical and non-clinical scientists to help identify unmet clinical needs that can become the focus of translational research efforts.

RFA for the Clinical Research Opportunities Program

Letter of Intent Deadline: April 15th, 2020
Application Deadline: May 27th, 2020
Anticipated Award Period: September 2020 – August 2022

Curriculum for DaCCoTA Scholars and Clinical Research Opportunities Program Awardees

PDC Core Faculty

William Mayhan, PhD - Director of the PDC

As the Dean of the Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Dakota, Dr. Mayhan is responsible for the academic and research enterprises and oversees their development and growth. He is also responsible for the internal mentoring program for faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students. He has been active in the training of faculty/staff/students/postdoctoral fellows/clinical fellows throughout his career and his research has been continually funded for over 35 years. His research focuses on many aspects of endothelial cell function during a variety of disease states including chronic hypertension, diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), aging, acute and chronic exposure to alcohol, and exposure to smoking. His goal is to identify a link between alterations in neurovascular coupling and the pathogenesis of stroke during disease states

Donald Sens, PhD - Co-Director of the PDC

Dr. Sens is a Professor of Pathology at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. His administrative experience is evidenced by his role as PI of the P20 INBRE program at UND and as the Program Coordinator for the recently awarded Cankdeska Cikana Native American Research Centers for Health. Dr. Sens has maintained active research support throughout his career, holding and participating in a wide variety of R01 research grants and R25 educational grants. His research is focused on the use of human tissues and derived cell cultures in biomedical research. The major theme of his research is to identify environmental agents that elicit human disease and cause alterations in cell structure and function, which can be used as predictive biomarkers of disease development and progression. His current studies address the role of environmental exposure to arsenic and cadmium in the development and progression of human bladder, breast, prostate, and renal diseases, including cancer. Dr. Sens was a reviewer for the DOD breast cancer program at its initiation and chaired a DOD breast cancer study section for over 10 years. He has served as a mentor in many capacities and has direct mentoring experience with undergraduates, graduate students, residents, and postdoctoral fellows.

Contact the DaCCoTA if you are interested in participating in any of our career development and mentoring opportunities.