ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Educ.
Sec. Higher Education
This article is part of the Research TopicUnleashing Potential in Changing Times: Professional Networks and Learning Communities in Professional DevelopmentView all articles
Fostering Interdisciplinary Cancer Research Education: Collaboration Networks, Publication Outcomes, and Participant Experiences from an Inaugural Research Day
Provisionally accepted
Okunsogie Jessica Osaze*
Robin DianicsZaw Htet AungJohn Raj KumarDivya AminSenthilnathan PalaniyandiGerhard Hildebrandt- University of Missouri, Columbia, United States
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ABSTRACT Background: Interdisciplinary collaboration is increasingly recognized as essential for advancing cancer research, yet institutional mechanisms fostering such networks are rarely systematically evaluated. Objective: We analyzed the inaugural 2023 Ellis Fischel Cancer Center (EFCC) Research Day to characterize collaboration patterns, research themes, publication outcomes, and participant experiences across four thematic program areas. Methods: We employed a convergent parallel mixed methods design, integrating quantitative analysis of 78 research abstracts with qualitative semi-structured interviews of seven participants. Abstracts were categorized across Cancer Prevention, Control, Outreach & Engagement Program (CPCOEP), Theranostics & Molecular Imaging Program (TMIP), Immunomodulation & Regenerative Medicine Program (IRMP), and Comparative Oncology & Translational Medicine Program (COTMP). Publication outcomes were tracked through systematic database searches over 22 months. Event attendance (n=203) was documented through registration records. Interviews conducted September-October 2025 explored collaboration experiences and event value. Results: Abstract distribution showed CPCOEP (13, 17%), TMIP (26, 33%), IRMP (28, 36%), and COTMP (11, 14%). Teams averaged 5.47 co-authors and 2.54 collaborating institutions. Graduate students comprised 32% of first authors. Within 22 months, 11.5% of abstracts yielded peer-reviewed publications, 10.3% conference abstracts, while 75.6% remained unpublished. Attendance analysis revealed 203 participants: faculty (32.0%), graduate students (18.2%), research staff (13.8%), undergraduates (12.8%), and postdoctoral researchers (11.3%). Qualitative interviews demonstrated that four of seven participants formed new research partnerships, with a collaborative grant submission resulting. Participants valued poster sessions for substantive one-on-one discussions but identified structural barriers including poster placement, limited dedicated networking time, and challenges balancing presentation duties with exploring others' research. Conclusions: Structured institutional research events successfully engage researchers across career stages and foster measurable interdisciplinary collaborations. However, intentional design elements including thematic networking sessions, dedicated collaboration time, and career development programming could enhance translational impact. Word count: 283
Keywords: cancer research landscape, productivity, collaboration, Mentorship, research day, cancer research training and education (CRTEC)
Received: 23 Jul 2025; Accepted: 07 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Osaze, Dianics, Aung, Raj Kumar, Amin, Palaniyandi and Hildebrandt. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Okunsogie Jessica Osaze, ojobyv@umsystem.edu
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