The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a top-rated cancer research charity, is excited to announce the fourth annual V Scholar Summit was held April 30 through May 1, 2019 in Rochester, Minn. The two-day summit included hands-on training with the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, informative sessions with experts and scientific advisors, Q&A sessions and collaboration with other researchers. Participants of the 2019 V Scholar Summit came from 23 different cancer centers across the nation.
“Effective science communication happens when we listen and connect. It happens when we use empathy,” said Alan Alda, actor, director, screenwriter, comedian, author and inspiration for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. “Communication is headed for success when we pay more attention to what the other person is understanding rather than focusing solely on what we want to say.”
The V Scholar Grant is a two-year grant of $100,000 per year. It supports young, tenure-track faculty early in their cancer research careers by funding projects that are either laboratory-based fundamental research or translational research. The V Foundation orchestrates the event to teach scientists how to develop clear, authentic and empathetic communication skills to convey complex topics regarding the advancements in cancer research and the impact it has on society, when interacting with media, patients and others outside their own discipline.
“The V Scholar Summit is a wonderful opportunity for us to support our V Scholars beyond the grant dollars,” said Carole Wegner, Ph.D., HCLD, Senior Vice President, Research and Grants Administration, the V Foundation. “The Summit supports crucial career skills like science communication and grant writing but also allows our early career scientists to form a strong community of scientists who can then more easily make new research connections and build collaborations, which accelerates cancer research. Cancer research is a team effort, and this event helps us build stronger teams.”
This year’s keynote speaker was Jamie Valvano, daughter of Jim Valvano. Jamie is a breast cancer survivor, who inherited the BRCA 2 gene from her father. Jamie shared how cancer research not only helped her survive, but thrive despite a terrifying diagnosis. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center was the host sponsor of the V Scholar Summit, with ESPN and SunTrust also sponsoring the event. The V Foundation has proudly awarded more than $225 million for cutting-edge cancer research. The V Foundation holds a 4-star (highest) rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest evaluator of charities, and is among the top 3% of all charities evaluated. The V Foundation is a GuideStar Platinum charity.
