Namely, a college professor going on sabbatical to do a special research project on some aspect of cancer.
Sabbatical. (n.):
a period of paid leave granted to a university teacher or other worker for study or travel, traditionally one year for every seven years worked. (Bing definition).
The closest everyday life parallel to a college professor "going on sabbatical" might be what happened during the COVID time, when many worked full time at home, regularly submitting their completed assignments to the office via email or such, while remaining at home.
Arguably the most useful feature of doing a sabbatical is the opportunity to employ one's time almost exclusively on that single project, the sabbatical, that one research goal that is now going to get close to 100 % of one's attention.
That is, going on sabbatical allows one to put aside some of the other, time-consuming professorial duties, such as classroom teaching, committee assignments, thesis supervision, and the like, in order to concentrate almost fully on the sabbatical research.
In the case of the professor on sabbatical, he retains his employment at his university, with salary somewhat reduced during the sabbatical period (usually the case) (and a big reason why I never took a sabbatical myself while at UF, I wasn't interested in taking a pay cut for the time period of the sabbatical), but benefits are usually kept the same. But he is permitted to work at home, or do relevant travel, in association with accomplishing a defined project during the sabbatical time period.
He will then submit a report at the end of the sabbatical, which usually lasts for a year, but 6-months or a single semester sabbatical is not uncommon.
That report is then commonly developed into a paper which is submitted for publication to a relevant journal.
Example:
"Rebecca Whelan, a newly tenured chemistry/biochemistry associate professor at Oberlin College in Ohio, which has 3,000 undergraduates, received an R15 grant for her sabbatical. Whelan is developing new cancer tests based on synthetic DNA molecules that bind to a specific target. To develop the assays, she needed two resources not available at Oberlin: specific ovarian cancer cell lines and a flow cytometer to test binding to the cells. "Flow cytometry is the type of technology that requires a core facility," says Whelan. "It's just not something we have at Oberlin. Detailed, advanced planning drove the success of Whelan's sabbatical. She had to develop her idea, line up a host lab, and submit a grant proposal in time to receive funding during her planned leave. Her advice: "Begin thinking strategically two or three years ahead to get funding and establish a relationship with the lab where you'll spend your sabbatical."From:
https://www.science.org/content/article/five-steps-successful-sabbatical Another example of a couple of academics going on sabbatical to do cancer research:
https://med.emory.edu/departments/surgery/news-and-events/news-highlights/2021/caroline-medin-and-jessica-keilson-receive-support-for-sabbaticals.htmlAnd sometimes, but not always, universities will announce those members of their faculties who are on sabbatical during a given year.
Example:
https://med.emory.edu/departments/surgery/education/general-surgery-residency/resident-research-sabbatials/current-sabbatical-residents.html(Interesting to note that of the above 16 Emory doctors reported as going on sabbatical, 5 of them will be working on cancer-related research).
More facts on professorial sabbaticals, from Microsoft Copilot:
Q: is there a national index of U. S. sabbaticals being done on cancer research
A: "There doesn’t appear to be a specific index of sabbaticals being done on cancer research. However, sabbaticals are commonly used in the academic field for researchers to learn new technologies, move their research toward a new direction, or diminish distraction to finish a book, scholarly papers, or a complicated clinical trial protocol.
For instance, at the Emory School of Medicine, general surgery residents Caroline Medin, MD, and Jessica Keilson, MD, received awards that assisted in funding their respective sabbaticals involving cancer research. Dr. Medin’s research project focused on characterizing the colorectal cancer tumor immune microenvironment, while Dr. Keilson investigated the role of unique immunotherapeutic targets for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.
These examples illustrate how sabbaticals can play a crucial role in advancing cancer research, even though there may not be a specific index tracking such endeavors. If you’re interested in a specific area of cancer research or a particular institution, I recommend reaching out to them directly for more information. They may be able to provide more specific details about ongoing sabbaticals in their organization." More on cancer-study sabbaticals in general, also from Microsoft Copilot:
Q: tell me about going on sabbatical to do cancer research
A: "Cancer researchers often choose sabbatical destinations that offer opportunities to learn new techniques, collaborate with other experts, and access resources not available at their home institutions. While the specific destinations can vary greatly depending on the individual’s research interests and connections, here are a few examples:
1. Research Institutions: many researchers choose to spend their sabbaticals at leading research institutions. These could be universities with strong programs in cancer research or dedicated cancer research centers.
2. Biotech and Pharmaceutical Companies: some researchers choose to spend their sabbaticals in industry settings, such as biotech or pharmaceutical companies. This can provide a different perspective and allow researchers to learn about drug discovery and development processes.
3. Government Agencies: spending a sabbatical in a government agency can provide researchers with insights into policy-making and regulatory aspects of cancer research.
4. International Laboratories: for some, a sabbatical is an opportunity to work in a different country and experience a new scientific culture. This can be particularly beneficial for researchers interested in global health issues related to cancer."
Q: what are good ways to fund a sabbatical?
A: "Securing funding for a cancer-focused sabbatical often involves applying for grants or fellowships from various sources. Here are some options:
1. National Cancer Institute (NCI). The NCI offers various funding opportunities for cancer research, including Research Project Grants (R01 and R21) that provide funding for specific areas of cancer research. They also have special initiatives and funding opportunities by research topic.
2. American Cancer Society (ACS). The ACS provides funding for cancer research in various forms. They have a list of currently funded cancer research grants by cancer type.
3. Nonprofit Organizations and Government Agencies. There are numerous nonprofit organizations and government agencies that offer grants to support academic sabbaticals. The specifics would depend on the organization or agency, and the nature of the research.
4. Institutional Funding. Some universities and research institutions have internal funding opportunities for faculty sabbaticals. These can often be found through the institution’s office of sponsored programs or equivalent.
5. Industry Partnerships. In some cases, partnerships with biotech or pharmaceutical companies can provide funding for sabbaticals, particularly if the research has potential commercial applications."So do sabbaticals devoted to cancer research projects produce results? Well, to judge from the three examples cited above, for Drs. Rebecca Whelan, Caroline Medin, and Jessica Keilson, after doing Google searches to identify their accomplishments, the answer would certainly seem to be in the affirmative. That is, sabbatical participation for each of them seems to have been a positive experience, and enabled them to produce useful research results during their sabbatical time.
So for most cancer researchers on sabbaticals, it is usually time well spent.
There is even a cottage industry out there to facilitate the process of professors going on sabbatical.
For example, need a place rto stay while visiting a distant city as part of one's sabbatical activities?
Then go to
https://www.sabbaticalhomes.com/and tell them where you want to stay, and for a fee they will locate a rental for you, maybe even one near the lab or library where you will be working.
And there are lots of other websites ready to offer advice on the logistics of moving off somewhere to begin a sabbatical.
So for those cancer researchers going on sabbatical for a year or even less, that time can serve as a great opportunity to perform activities that just may result in an important contribution to the world of cancer research.
Another tool in the toolbox for doing studies on cancer.