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The Interagency Oncology Task Force Fellowship (IOTF) provides postdocs the opportunity to gain research and regulatory skills by completing a fellowship at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The fellowship is offered as a partnership of the FDA, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Department Health and Human Services (HHS).
NCI is committed to training the next generation of scientific leaders, and it is crucial that these scholars reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented populations in biomedical research to submit applications.
The partnership between NCI and the FDA provides physicians and postdoctoral fellows the opportunity to conduct oncology research and regulatory review for up to three years. Specifically, the program trains scientists in research and research-related regulatory review, policies, and regulations to develop a skill set that bridges the two disparate processes. Fellows learn to build awareness of regulatory requirements into the early stages of the medical product development process and will develop strategies to improve planning throughout research and regulatory review.
IOTF Timeline
- Application Cycle Opens
May 1, 2024 - Application Due Date
Jun 3, 2024 - Reference Letter Due Date
Jun 10, 2024
As part of the program, fellows will:
- Conduct mentored research at the FDA in Silver Spring, MD with scientists across the FDA divisions;
- Receive formal training in the regulatory review process, clinical trial design, and/or product development (varies based on the track); and
- Participate in courses, workshops, and conferences to enhance the hands-on training
Why Choose this Fellowship?
The IOTF fellowship is a unique opportunity to gain both research and regulatory review training. The fellows gain invaluable hands-on experience in understanding critical ethical issues and requirements in product research, have the opportunity to participate in the review of regulatory files, and participate in product-related research. Since the program was established in 2005, the IOTF has trained 90 scientists who have remained in industry or regulatory fields. Notably, 75% of the participants have received full-time staff or reviewer positions at the FDA.
Learn more about the Fellowship
The IOTF fellowship is composed of four tracks (based on career stage) and provides up the three years of research and regulatory review training. For some of the tracks, the FDA partners with a specific NCI program. In each track, the fellow is required to train at the FDA White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, MD. Due to the differences in career stage and NCI program partners, there are some distinct differences between the tracks. To learn more about the program tracks, visit the IOTF website. For specific questions about the FDA, please contact our partners in the Office of Scientific and Professional Development.
This track trains physicians currently participating in the NIH Hematology Oncology Fellowship in aspects of clinical trials methodology and analysis, epidemiology, clinical aspects of medical product development, and regulation to facilitate the movement of drugs, biologics, and devices from the basic bench science to commercialization.
NIH Hematology Oncology fellows can spend time during their second or third years participating in regulatory research and review at the FDA. They often continue to spend one day per week in clinical activities at the NCI. Visit the NIH Hematology Oncology Fellowship to learn more about the program.
- Training in clinical trial design, clinical pharmacology, pharmacoepidemiology, and product development in the context of clinical research
- Spend protected time conducting regulatory research and review at the FDA
This track trains physicians Board Certified in Oncology in aspects of drug, biologic, or device development and related issues and standards to facilitate movement from basic bench science to commercialization.
Fellows spend one year conducting regulatory research and review at the FDA. Fellows are supported directly by the Center for Cancer Training and receive a stipend comparable to a senior postdoctoral fellow (starting at approximately, $80,400). NCI also covers the cost of your health insurance, which includes medical, prescription, vision, and dental insurance.
- Understanding of the review process for regulatory pathways, as well as legal and regulatory aspects of cancer product development
- Spend protected time conducting regulatory research and review at the FDA regulatory research and review at the FDA
This track trains individuals with postdoctoral research experience in aspects of research and review of the medical product development process to facilitate the movement of drugs, biologics, and devices from the bench to the bedside.
Fellows spend up to two years conducting regulatory research and review at the FDA. Fellows are supported directly by the Center for Cancer Training and the stipend starts at $65,000. NCI also covers the cost of your health insurance, which includes medical, prescription, vision, and dental insurance. Current NCI fellows will transfer from their current research group to the Center for Cancer Training, but their fellowship package will be maintained.
- Understanding of the regulatory requirements for product development/ approval process, and review of regulatory files
- Participation in the development of product standards and guidance document development
This track trains postdoctoral fellows participating in the NCI Cancer Prevention Fellowship (CPFP) program in aspects of the cancer prevention drug, biologic, or device development processes, including their application to study populations, to facilitate the movement of novel approaches from the bench to the community
CPFP fellows can spend up to three years conducting regulatory research and review at the FDA. Fellows will continue to participate in all CPFP activities at NCI. Visit the CPFP to learn more about the program.
- Understanding the design and analysis of clinical trials, familiarity with the IRB approval process, and determining clinical endpoints in cancer prevention and early detection trials
- Gain understanding of critical ethical issues and requirements in product research, development and review