Cancer research training: the Southwest Oncology Group young investigator training program (YITP).

Background. Recognizing the growing need for an infusion of new investigators into the cancer researchers, and realizing that well-trained cancer researchers are a dying breed, the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) initiated the Young Investigator Training Program (YITP) in 1999, supported by the Hope Foundation. The first author was one of four applicants accepted in 2004 and is reporting on this experience. Methods. After a rigorous and competitive application process, four physicians beginning their career in Hematology-Oncology are chosen each year. Each investigator would have submitted an original research concept. Each class receives intensive training in statistical principles, data collection and analysis, critical decision making, and protocol development guidelines. Each investigator spends 4 days at the SWOG operations office in San Antonio, Texas, and 4 days at the statistical center in Seattle, Washington. Results. As part of the training course, each investigator will design a clinical protoc...