The Cancer Biology Concentration in the UF College of Medicine Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences is marking 10 years
Cancer isn’t a single disease, but rather a collection of hundreds of distinct diseases that look and behave differently on a genetic and molecular level.
That means significant progress to reduce the cancer burden requires bringing together experts across the spectrum, from the basic mechanisms of disease biology to the management of cancer treatment side effects.
That’s where the Cancer Biology Concentration in the UF College of Medicine Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences stands apart. The concentration prepares the next generation for success by providing exceptional cancer research doctoral training, from molecular and cell biology to translational cancer investigations.
“The Cancer Biology Concentration is unique in that it is not directly connected with a single department or joint departments,” said Dietmar Siemann, Ph.D., who co-leads the concentration with Maria Zajac-Kaye, Ph.D. “Because cancer research covers a broad spectrum from basic molecular and cellular research to management of the disease in patients and everything in between, faculty come from a wide range of basic and clinical departments. That means students’ opportunities are unlimited.”
Siemann, the UF Health Cancer Center’s associate director for cancer training and education, established the concentration in 2015; today, it’s celebrating its 10th year.
Since it began, 63 trainees have joined the concentration, which currently has 28 students and features 45 UF Health Cancer Center members serving as mentors. Thirty-five trainees have completed their doctoral training, with 12 in postdoctoral or medical/clinical training, four in academic research, 15 in industry and one in the nonprofit sector. Postgraduates have authored 145 publications.
“I’m most proud of the success of our graduates and the wide range of careers they have chosen, well beyond anything I ever imagined,” Siemann said.
In addition, 38 students have served as UF Health Cancer Center Ambassadors, 22 have received Predoctoral Awards, seven have completed the TL1 training program and three have completed the Team-based Interdisciplinary Cancer Research Training Program.
63 Trainees have joined the program
28 Current students
45 UF Health Cancer Center members have participated
35 Trainees have completed their Ph.D.s
12 Graduates in postdoctoral or medical/clinical training
4 Graduates in academic research
15 Graduates in industry
1 Graduates in nonprofit sector
Collaborations and community
Alumna Mai Tanaka, Ph.D. ’21, had the opportunity to work not only within the Department of Radiation Oncology — the home department of her mentor — but also with faculty and peers from other colleges and academic departments and even investigators at the Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
“That breadth of collaboration exposed me to new perspectives and approaches, which shaped the way I think about science and problem-solving,” said Tanaka, who researched a signaling pathway especially abundant in aggressive cancers and explored ways to target the pathway through drugs.
Through activities like a Data Discussion seminar where trainees gave oral research presentations to the entire Cancer Biology Concentration group, Tanaka found a strong sense of community.
“The academic setup combined rigorous training with a genuine openness to connect, share and learn from one another,” she said.
Sharing knowledge
Alumnus Xzaviar Solone, Ph.D., ’24, served as one of the UF Health Cancer Center’s Ambassadors. He had opportunities to share his research with secondary educators across Florida, travel to high schools to present research, recruit and evaluate undergraduate interns, and help interview prospective graduate students. He also designed and taught lesson plans for high school students.
“The Cancer Biology Concentration provided me with more than just research exposure; it gave me a framework for thinking like a scientist while also developing leadership potential,” Solone said.
“The Cancer Biology Concentration provided me with more than just research exposure; it gave me a framework for thinking like a scientist while also developing leadership potential.” — Xzaviar Solone, Ph.D., ’24
The program gave him resources to attend conferences such as the Cancer Biology Training Consortium Annual Retreat and the Cancer Center’s Research Showcase, where he won a 2024 poster award for his research on molecular regulation in an aggressive subtype of lung cancer.
“These experiences strengthened both my CV and professional confidence,” Solone said.
Paying it forward
Tanaka said she was fortunate to work with Siemann, whom she calls an incredible mentor. From her early days a graduate student, Siemann encouraged her to present her work at every opportunity.
“His guidance helped me not only showcase my research but also build essential professional skills like learning how to tell a compelling story, design effective presentations and tailor my communication to different audiences,” Tanaka said.
As a graduate student, she mentored high school and undergraduate students, encouraging them to share their work at undergraduate symposiums and conferences.
“I’m especially proud that all of my undergraduate mentees went on to advanced degree programs after graduation and still keep in touch with me to share updates on their journeys,” Tanaka said. “That cycle of learning, growing and paying it forward has continued to be one of the most rewarding parts of my career and remains central to how I approach my work.”
The mentorship she received has informed Tanaka’s biggest piece of advice for other students: be intentional about choosing a mentor.
“Doctoral training is not a sprint but a marathon, and the mentor–mentee relationship was central to sustaining me through the challenges and milestones along the way, ” she said.
Solone also developed mentorship skills by training two undergraduate students, who went on to present their work at the UF Undergraduate Research Symposium. His experience in the lab of Lizi Wu, Ph.D., co-leader of the Cancer Center’s Mechanisms of Oncogenesis research program, was formative.
Prepared for the future
Today, Solone is a second-year postdoctoral researcher at Henry Ford Cancer in Detroit, Michigan, where he’s helping to establish cancer research focus programs in the lab.
“The skills I developed in my research lab are evident in the progress I’ve been able to make in my career so far,” Solone said.
Tanaka developed skills — like critical thinking, structured problem-solving and iterative hypothesis-driven approaches — that have served her well beyond the bench as she transitioned into a business role at a biotech company.
“Even though I now focus on respiratory diseases, the way I approach questions remains rooted in the scientific method I honed during my Ph.D.,” Tanaka said. “This training has allowed me to quickly get up to speed in a new therapeutic area, assess challenges and develop data-driven solutions, all with the ultimate goal of advancing therapies that can improve patient outcomes.”
