Our Goal
The goal of the Heidi Dvinge and Patti Keely Cancer Trainee Network is to grow the involvement of trainees across the UW cancer research fields and foster a community of service. We are open to trainees of all levels who are working with our faculty and trainees doing cancer-related research in ALL areas.
Our Purpose
The purpose of the Center Heidi Dvinge and Patti Keely Cancer Trainee Network is to serve and provide value to ALL cancer research trainees. Specifically, trainees can expect:
• Opportunities to interact with other trainees of all levels and research areas
• Funding opportunities
• Grass roots voice for trainee needs
The Cancer Trainee Network is growing…it’s time for you to get involved!!
The Cancer Trainee Network started in 2019 and was created to provide a platform for ALL cancer related research from basic science to clinical fellows. Some of the benefits offered to registered trainees:
• Interactions, support, and networking opportunities
• Funding and Awards – Research Retreat, Travel/Enrichment,
Summer Research (you must be registered to be eligible)
• Cancer-related seminars
• Network communications
To be eligible for awards and travel opportunities, you must be a registered member.
Registration Link
Faculty Advisors
Anna Huttenlocher, MD
Professor of Medical Microbiology
& Immunology and Pediatrics
Jane Churpek, MD, MS
Assistant Professor
Division of Hematology
Medical Oncology and
Palliative Care
Useful Links
Cancer Trainee Network Leadership Team Application Window is now OPEN!!
The goal of the Heidi Dvinge and Patti Keely Cancer Trainee Network is to grow the involvement of trainees across the UW cancer research fields and foster a community of service. We are open to trainees of all levels who are working with our faculty and trainees doing cancer-related research in ALL areas. We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2027 Leadership Team. For more information about the position, and required documents, please review the RFA .
The application window is closed.
Thank you to all who applied!
Applications close January 3, 2025 5:00 PM
Cancer Trainee Network Seminar Series
The CTN Seminar Series provides all trainee’s with the opportunity to share their research with other trainees. This is a great space to meet, practice and collaborate.
All events will take place in
HSLC 1229
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Pizza will be provided
2024 Fall Dates
September 17 – Jennifer Bird, PhD & Rachel Minne, MS
October 15
November 19 – Dr. Patricia Favaro
If you are interested in presenting or know someone who would, please click the button below to fill out the form.
Immunology Work-in-Progress (IWiP)
A forum for trainees and early career faculty
to share their ongoing research with other
trainees conducting cancer research.
Your UW Immunology Work In Progress (IWIP)
is excited to announce the 2024/2025
Seminar Series Schedule
September 24, 2024
October 22, 2024
December 3, 2024
February 18, 2025
March 11, 2025
April 8, 2025
IWIP meetings will be in
Microbial Science Building (MSB)
Room 2511
12pm – 1pm
Zoom Link: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/5489456682
Pizza will be provided!!
In the News
Cancer Trainee Network Carbone Chronicles
Written BY trainees FOR trainees ABOUT trainees!! Get to know your fellow trainees and catch up on Cancer Trainee Network events and announcements.
Cancer Trainee Network Cancer Chronicles
June 2024 Issue
CTN Cancer Chronicles: May 2024
CTN Cancer Chronicles: April 2023
CTN Cancer Chronicles: March 2023
CTN Carbone Chronicles (Feb 2023)
CTN Cancer Chronicles: October 2023
Heidi Dvinge & Patti Keely Travel/Enrichment Awards
for graduate and medical students, residents, clinical and research fellows and postdocs
Application for the 2025 Annual Awards will open in late Spring 2025
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Annual Heidi Dvinge and Patti Keely Cancer Trainee Network Travel/Enrichment Awards!
This award was made possible by generous donors and is to provide support for full-time trainees to travel to events that will enhance their cancer research training.
Additional Network Info
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Current Cancer Trainee Network Leadership Team
Lauren Banaszak – Chief Resident/Clinical Fellow Jack Shireman – Neurological Surgery
Mayra Betancourt Ponce – Ob-Gyn Gynecologic Oncology Amanda Shea – Cancer Biology
Erica Hoffmann – Cell and Regenerative Biology Apoorva Anandan, MD
Clayton Marcinak – Clinical Fellow/Department of Surgery Amy Taylor, MD – Research Fellow
Lauren Montemorano – Ob-Gyn Clinical Fellow Marien Ochoa, MD – Post Doctoral Fellow
Loyda Braithwaite – Hematology, Medical Oncology, Palliative Care Noah Carrillo – Molecular & Environmental Toxicology
Johanna Poterala – Medicine Clinical Fellow
Tanaya Purohit – Urology
Cristina Paz – Surgery/Human Oncology
Megan Bacabac – Grad Student
Recent Alumni of this Committee:
Jennifer Bird – Population Health PhD Graduate
Jeremy Kratz – Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care
Activities and Benefits
- Quarterly advisory panel meetings
- Recommendations on how they could benefit from the center, planning for honors opportunities, ideas to unify cancer related trainees
- Review grant applications for undergraduate educational grants
- Serve on the Carbone Research Retreat planning committee
- Recommendations/Judging of trainee presentations and awards
- Possible Honors
- Society trainee specific funding opportunities (travel awards, small research awards) *you must be registered with the Cancer Trainee Network to apply and receive awards.
- Opportunities to speak at community events
- Host Cancer Center tours or nominate other to lead tours
- Best paper awards
- Grand Rounds presentation
- Other Amazing Perks
- Seminar Events information
- Social Information
- Network support opportunities
- The Cancer Trainee Network Chronicles Newspaper
- Access to Cancer Trainee Network podcasts
- Volunteer opportunities through UWCCC
- Automatic weekly UWCCC TGIF digital subscription
Applying to be part of the Cancer Trainee Network Leadership Team
NOMINATION INFORMATION
- Members will be added each year for the leadership cohort
- 2-year term
- Application due date is in November 2024
- Review and Notifications mid December 2024
APPLICATION PROCESS AND COMPONENTS
- Work with your mentor to complete the application via Smartsheet. Link here (Fall of 2022) and scroll down to Open Nomination section.
- Trainee – Brief statement of application
- Trainee – Resume/biosketch
- Mentor – Letter of recommendation
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:
- Trainee levels eligible – graduate, medical, postdoctoral, residents, fellows
- Musts be working with Cancer Center faculty, conducting cancer-focused research and/or are engaged in oncology-related clinical training.
- Trainee should have demonstrated involvement in research events, committees, cancer related organizations
- Mentor recommendation on trainee demonstration or expression of research excellence, professionalism, dedication.
- Please keep in mind UW-Madison’s statement on diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW–Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community
Please contact members of the existing leadership team for more information on the society and their experiences at UWCCCtrainees@mailplus.wisc.
Research Resources
https://cancer.wisc.edu/research/shared-resources/
SMPH funding opportunities link
https://intranet.med.wisc.edu/research/funding-opportunities/
medRAMP grants library link
https://grantslibrary.med.wisc.edu/
Grant opportunities from UWCCC
https://cancer.wisc.edu/research/funding/
Data Science Hub
https://datascience.wisc.edu/hub
UW Biotechnology Center
This Cancer Trainee Network is named in honor and memory of two amazing scientists
Heidi Dvinge, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Chemistry and member of the Carbone Cancer Center, passed away unexpectedly in September 2019. With great sorrow over the loss of a brilliant young scientist, colleague, mentor and friend, we honor her memory and her scholarly work. Dvinge had been a member of the School of Medicine and Public Health faculty. Her research program was dedicated to understanding how misregulation of RNA processing contributes to disease, and how changes that occur in RNA splicing processes in cancer cells might be exploited to allow new therapeutic approaches. Her research interwove the disciplines of molecular biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics and oncology with a combination of precision and creativity. “She had the knowledge and ability to conduct science involving big data, but at the same time, she had finesse for experimental science in the lab — a very rare combination.” Says Emery Bresnick, PhD, leader of the UW Carbone Cancer Center’s Genetics and Epigenetics Program. The scientific world took note of Dvinge’s brilliance: Over the past five years alone, her publications have been cited more than 4,600 times.
She was a skilled mentor to undergraduates and graduate students, serving as a faculty mentor in the Integrated Program in Biochemistry, the Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, and the Genetics PhD program.
Patricia Keely, PhD, was Professor of Cell and Regenerative Biology and co-leader of the Tumor Micro-environment Group at Carbone Cancer Center. It would be easy to simply say Dr. Patti Keely was a world-class, nationally recognized breast cancer researcher at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. And, that would be correct – but only part of the picture. Patti transformed her personal cancer diagnosis into experiential learning opportunities that inspired her to dive deeper in search of a cure for the disease. Keely died in 2017 of advanced pancreatic cancer. Her prolific research career, which includes countless publications, was most recently focused on cell signaling related to cellular differentiation and transformation and included her sentinel research on the role of the cellular micro-environment in the behavior of breast cancer cells.
Her leadership, mentor ship and her collaborative nature allowed her to make a tremendous impact in this world, according to Dr. Howard Bailey, associate dean for oncology and director of the Carbone Cancer Center. “She leaves behind a remarkable legacy as an outstanding scientist, dedicated mentor, strong academic leader, and caring and committed person,” said Dr. Robert Golden, dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health.
CONTACT US
Mary Nutt Mary Headington
Assistant Director of Cancer Research
Translational Research and Education Training Coordinator
mpnutt@wisc.edu headington@wisc.edu