An interdisciplinary training program in nutrition sciences and cancer

To address the shortage of health care professionals trained in the nutritional aspects of cancer prevention, the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1988 initiated the Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program (CPCTP), with R25 grant support from the NIH/NCI. The CPCTP has enrolled 11 predoctoral and 12 postdoctoral trainees, of whom 18 have completed training and five remain in the program. The curriculum and other program elements are described, and the trainees' academic achievements and ultimate careers are reported. The CPCTP has become a significant resource for training cancer nutrition professionals.