Ronald J. Weigel, MD, PhD, MBA, Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Department of Surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, and Songhai Chen, MD, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience and Pharmacology have been awarded a prestigious National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health T32 training grant to establish the University of Iowa Surgical Oncology Research Training Program.
The five-year award will provide funding for three surgical trainees each year to complete a two-year research fellowship in basic science or clinical research, helping prepare the next generation of surgeon-scientists and cancer researchers.
Funded through the National Cancer Institute's Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Research Training Grant Program, the grant reflects the strength of the University of Iowa's surgical research environment and commitment to advancing research, education, and mentorship.
"Developing the next generation of surgeon-scientists is essential to advancing patient care," Weigel said. "This training program will provide talented surgical trainees with dedicated time for research, strong mentorship, and the resources needed to pursue scientific discovery while preparing for careers in academic medicine."
In addition to supporting trainee development, the program will strengthen the department's ability to recruit highly motivated residents and fellows seeking rigorous research training and mentorship as part of their surgical education. The grant is available to all surgical trainees in any area of surgical subspecialty who have completed at least two years of surgical residency. Candidates from other surgical training programs nationally are also encouraged to apply.
"The University of Iowa has a long tradition of excellence in surgical research," Weigel said. "This grant allows us to recruit and support exceptional trainees who want to combine clinical excellence with scientific discovery. Our goal is to provide an environment where future surgeon-scientists can develop the skills, mentorship and experience needed to become leaders in academic surgery."
"This award recognizes the outstanding research training environment Dr. Weigel has helped cultivate and will provide invaluable opportunities for future surgeon-scientists to pursue meaningful research careers," said Vikas Dudeja, MBBS, FACS, professor and chair of surgery. "We are incredibly proud of this achievement and grateful for his many contributions to the Department of Surgery."
The grant will support trainee stipends, tuition, travel and training-related expenses through 2031, creating new opportunities for aspiring academic surgeons to pursue impactful research training at Iowa.
Interested applicants
Medical students, residents, and fellows interested in learning more about the University of Iowa Surgical Oncology Research Training Program and future training opportunities are encouraged to contact Dr. Ronald Weigel through the Department of Surgery.