TRAIN: Training through Research Application Italian Initiative

Abstract

Training through Research Application Italian iNitiative (TRAIN) is a mobility program financed under the EU action called “Cofinancing of regional, national and international programs” (COFUND) of the European Commission Seventh Framework Program (FP7) – People, and has been designed to encourage the promotion and development of international programs of research through mobility at various stages of research careers. The aim of TRAIN is to improve translational skills in the field of cancer by promoting a three-year international mobility program assigning a total of 51 fellowships subdivided into incoming, outgoing and reintegration fellowships. The TRAIN proposal has been submitted in February 2009 to the European Commission in reply to the 2008 FP7-PEOPLECOFUND call and has been successfully evaluated. TRAIN is addressed to postdoctoral scientists or scientists who have at least four years' full-time equivalent research experience and who wish to improve their careers spending one year abroad. The mobility program is open also to non-Italian experienced scientists wishing to spend one year in an Italian research center or private company. Part of the scheme is targeted to experienced Italian scientists who have completed at least three years of research in a foreign country and are interested in returning to Italy. TRAIN is part of an overall Italian strategy outlined by the International Program of the Italian Cancer Network “Alleanza Contro il Cancro” to promote Italian participation in the building of the European Area for translational cancer research and to enhance the interaction between academy and industry.