Dr. Teresa Kim Receives NCI Early-Stage Surgeon Scientist Program Award 

Dr. Teresa Kim

Friday, April 1, 2022—

Dr. Teresa Kim, Assistant Professor, Division of General Surgery, received the NCI Early-Stage Surgeon Scientist Program (ESSP) award in February 2022. ESSP is designed to train surgeon scientists and retain them in cancer research by supporting a program focused on cancer-related disease and basic/translational research. This program aims to bring together surgeon scientists from across the United States and build cohorts that will be trained together for up to three years per cohort. ESSP participants will be funded through an administrative supplement to the grantee’s NCI-designated Cancer Center Support Grant (P30) or Comprehensive Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (CPACHE; U54) to one of the institutions serving underserved health disparity populations and underrepresented students (ISUPSs). NCI Intramural surgeon scientists may also apply to participate in the program.

“This award is so impactful. I am grateful that the NIH recognized and is proactively working to support early-stage surgeon scientists, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside brilliant peers and continue building my own tumor immunology research program. Most importantly, I am grateful for the sustained support of the Department of Surgery – the investment in my scientific work, the sponsorship of opportunities like this, and the invaluable mentorship shared by senior surgeon scientists, Drs. Raymond Yeung and Venu Pillarisetty. Their passion, wisdom, guidance, and belief in my potential have been critical at many steps along the way. Excited to get to work, tackling immune resistance in colorectal cancer liver metastasis.”

This 5-year pilot program will support early-career surgeon scientist program participants, each of whom will receive three years of funding in three cohorts, staggered a year apart. Each cohort will be comprised of primarily extramural surgeons. Only one candidate per P30, one ISUPS candidate per CPACHE U54 Program, and one candidate per intramural NCI Lab/Branch may be nominated to apply by the Center/Division director or Branch Chief per cohort.