JING: Training the Next Generation 2018
In January 2018 over 100 people from across the ECMC network came to Manchester to attend the sixth annual two day Junior Investigator Network Group (JING): Training the Next Generation event. This two day residential is aimed at junior investigators wishing to pursue and develop in the area of early phase trials and translational research within the ECMCs. Attendees included trainees, faculty, speakers and patient and public involvement representatives.
Established in 2013, JING supports junior investigators from across the ECMC network early in their career development right through to becoming independent researchers. The event brings together trainees from clinical and non-clinical disciplines and gives them the opportunity to network with, and learn from, both their peers and experienced members of faculty.
The two day event would not be a success without the time given by both the members of faculty, who included senior clinicians, translational scientists and statisticians, and members of Cancer Research UK’s Involvement Network to take part in this event. A trainee stated: ‘[The two days were] a really useful training event – particularly useful was the engagement with faculty members – it’s rare as registrars that we have such opportunities to discuss careers and research ideas in depth, and people with such a breadth of experience’.
During the first day of the meeting, trainees heard presentations on several topics relating to the design of early phase and translational research such as biomarkers, statistics, surgery, radiotherapy and working with combinations and industry. The second day opened with a session run by the Cancer Research UK Involvement team on involving people affected by cancer in your work.
The rest of the day was spent in break-out groups with trainees presenting their own study ideas and receiving feedback from their peers and faculty members. As one trainee said: ‘I feel it is the facetime and feedback during the break-out sessions that are invaluable and make this conference unique from many others’.
Hopefully the junior investigators who were at the meeting in Manchester now have greater confidence to develop their own study ideas after hearing about different aspects of trial design through presentations and discussions with colleagues. Another benefit of attending the residential is the chance to network with colleagues and collaborators from across the UK’s research community.