cancer prevention research training program

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Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center

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Research for Cancer Prevention and Control

Interdisciplinary training in cancer prevention and control.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center offer pre- and postdoctoral training in interdisciplinary cancer prevention and control. This program provides promising scientists with the opportunity for research training in cancer prevention and control in a research-intensive multidisciplinary setting.

Our goal is to prepare scientists to conduct interdisciplinary cancer prevention and control research with opportunities for focus across the cancer control continuum including prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship. The program has a major emphasis on addressing cancer disparities.

We are currently accepting applications from individuals with PhDs in health-related fields or those anticipating their PhD by August 2024 on a rolling basis.  Contact program coordinator Nikki Benbow at nholdcro@iu.edu  for more information.

8 mean number of publications during fellowship

75% postdoctoral trainees have accepted academic tenure-track positions

82% predoctoral fellows accepted postdoctoral positions at leading research institutions

Interdisciplinary pre- and postdoctoral training in cancer prevention and control

Award-winning scientists with expertise in nearly every field of research

Integrated and specialized training for every trainee

View the qualifications for candidates and request an introductory meeting

Current T32 Fellows

Meet the current T32 fellows.

Why apply for a T32 Fellowship?

Our program is flexible enough to address the educational needs of individuals from different academic home disciplines, but formal enough to ensure that you’ll achieve high levels of content knowledge and acquire intensive research experience by the time you complete your studies.

As a pre- or post-doctoral trainee, you will:

• Reflect the diversity of our state and nation.
• Understand the importance of addressing cancer health disparities.
• Believe in team science and the need for a transdisciplinary approach to cancer prevention and control science.

Predoctoral fellows are allowed a maximum of three years of support; postdoctoral fellows receive two or three years of support, depending on an evaluation of their progress.

We believe that advances in science require investigators who are trained to work across disciplines while considering translation at all levels—from bench to bedside to the community.

Meet the Directors

Victoria Champion, PhD, RN, FAAN

Dr. Champion is recognized internationally as an expert in behavioral oncology, with research focusing on interventions to increase cancer screening in underserved and community settings.

Additionally, her research has addressed cancer survivorship and symptom science throughout the survivorship continuum.

Catherine Mosher, PhD

For over a decade, Dr. Mosher has mentored trainees in cancer prevention and control, many of whom have earned national awards for their research and pursued research careers.

Dr. Mosher’s research focuses on the development and evaluation of behavioral interventions to improve symptom management and quality of life for both patients with cancer and their family caregivers.

To learn more about the Cancer Prevention and Control program, please send an email, along with your CV, to Nikki Benbow at [email protected] .

#ResearchCuresCancer

Indiana university melvin and bren simon comprehensive cancer center resources and social media channels.

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Additional links and resources

Cancer Pain Research Addressing Multiple Causes, Multiple Managements

As improved cancer treatments have led to increased cancer survivorship, cancer survivors are now living longer with chronic pain. NCI is supporting research to address this issue.

Translational Science Review on Cancer Screening with Multicancer Detection Tests Published

MISSION STATEMENT

The Division of Cancer Prevention furthers the mission of the National Cancer Institute by leading, supporting, and promoting rigorous, innovative research and training to prevent cancer and its consequences to improve the health of all people.

Read more about Our Research

Latest News

Cap-it news - april 2024.

In this issue: investigator news, publicatoins, grants & awards, working groups, steering committe, shared resources, job opportunities, upcoming event.

Proposed Cancer Prevention Framework, Rare Cancers Workshop, Call for Abstracts, Grant Submission News, and More

Latest News, Upcoming Events, Past Event, Grant Submission News, Reminders

A Translational Review of MCDs, Possible Biomarker for Lynch Patients, Cancer Pain Research, AACR, and More

Latest News, Upcoming Events, In Case you Missed It, Reminders

DCP Participation at American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, April 5-10, 2024

Consider attending these AACR sessions to learn about the latest DCP funding opportunities in cancer prevention, interception, and symptom science; research resources and workforce activities; multi-cancer detection tests…

Meetings and Events

Rare cancers prevention and interception virtual workshop.

• Tue, May 7, 2024: 10:00a.m. ET - Tue, May 7, 2024: 5:30p.m. ET
• Wed, May 8, 2024: 9:45a.m. ET - Wed, May 8, 2024: 6:00p.m. ET

Immuno-Oncology Translational Network (IOTN) Capstone Meeting

• Tue, May 14, 2024: 8:00a.m. ET - Tue, May 14, 2024: 4:45p.m. ET
• Wed, May 15, 2024: 8:25a.m. ET - Wed, May 15, 2024: 4:45p.m. ET

Feasibility of Self-Administered, Intravaginal Therapies for Cervical Precancer Treatment in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

• Wed, May 29, 2024: 12:00p.m. ET - Wed, May 29, 2024: 1:00p.m. ET

Cancer Prevention & Control

The Behavioral and Psychosocial Research Training Program in Cancer Prevention and Control is an NCI-funded T32 postdoctoral program that will equip participants to work at the interface between behavioral and social science, technology, clinical oncology and cancer biology.

Now Accepting applications for 2021 (PDF)

The program will provide an immersion in the following, as applied to cancer prevention, control and survivorship:

• The fundamentals of cancer biology and clinical oncology
• Theory-based, technology-supported behavioral interventions
• Outcomes science and measurement
• Novel research designs using multiphase optimization strategy (MOST)
• Community engagement strategies

The two-year training program will consist of research, educational and career development components and will prepare participants for academic and related careers. Participants will have the opportunity to enroll in one of four relevant master’s degree programs: an MPH, an MS in Clinical Investigation, an MS in Health Sciences and Outcomes Research or an MS in Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Now Accepting Applications for 2024

Qualified doctorates and clinicians are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Please send cover letter, CV, statement describing research interests and experience and at least one letter of recommendation to Betina Yanez, PhD .

Program Directors :

David Cella, PhD

Betina Yanez, PhD

Brian Hitsman, PhD

Program Assistant : Alma Diaz , 312-503-0452

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities .

Meet our current trainees

Research Mentors

Professor, Medical Social Sciences Outcomes and measurement sciences, quality of life (QOL) assessments, health disparities

• View Faculty Profile

Betina R Yanez, PhD

Associate Professor, Medical Social Sciences Patient-centered precision oncology

Associate Professor, Preventive Medicine Causes and treatments of tobacco dependence

Kenzie Cameron, PhD, MPH

Professor, Medicine Communication-based health interventions

Sofia Garcia, PhD

Associate Professor, Medical Social Sciences Assessment and management of post-treatment symptoms, health literacy

Lifang Hou, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Preventive Medicine Molecular markers of cancer risk and environmental exposure

Seema Khan, MD

Professor, Surgery Cancer prevention clinical trials, breast cancer prevention strategies

Jin-Shei Lai, PhD

Professor, Medical Social Sciences Psychometrics, health-related QOL assessments

David Mohr, PhD

Professor, Preventive Medicine Behavior intervention technologies, psychosocial distress in cancer patients

Judy Moskowitz, PhD

Professor, Medical Social Sciences Adaptive role of positive emotion regulation

Siobhan M Phillips, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor, Preventive Medicine Physical activity interventions in cancer survivors

Juned Siddique, DrPH

Associate Professor, Preventive Medicine Measurement error in diet and activity interventions

Melissa Simon, MD

Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology Cancer health disparities, community-based participatory research

Linda Van Horn, PhD

Professor, Preventive Medicine Nutritional assessments, dietary interventions

David Victorson, PhD

Professor, Medical Social Sciences Psychosocial, bio-behavioral and mind-body approaches to improve QOL in cancer patients

Michael Wolf, PhD

Professor, Medicine Health impairments due to low literacy, remedial strategies

Abel N. Kho, MD

Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics) and Preventive Medicine (Health and Biomedical Informatics) Genomics and Medical Informatics

Kiarri N Kershaw, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine (Epidemiology) Cancer Social Epidemiology

Christine M Rini, PhD

Director, Cancer Survivorship Institute Professor of Medical Social Sciences 

Courtney Scherr, PhD

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies 

Elizabeth A. Hibler, PhD

Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine (Epidemiology, Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention) 

Karen Ann Kaiser, PhD

Research Associate Professor of Medical Social Sciences 

Adam B. Murphy, MD

Assistant Professor of Urology and Preventive Medicine (Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention) 

Namratha Kandula, MD, MPH

Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics) and Preventive Medicine (Epidemiology) Targeting cancer health disparities through interdisciplinary research methods

John (Devin) Peipert, PhD

Assistant Professor, Medical Social Sciences Patient reported outcomes (PROs) in clinical monitoring to optimize patient management

Rinad Beidas, PhD

Professor and Chair, Medical Social Sciences Implementation science and behavioral economics to improve the quality and equity of care and enhance health outcomes

Lauren Beach, PhD

Associate Professor, Medical Social Sciences and Preventive Medicine Epidemiology of aging and chronic physical health conditions

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Yale Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) Training Program

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INFORMATION FOR

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The objective of the Yale CPC Training Program is to provide Fellows with rigorous methodological and content-oriented training from a multidisciplinary perspective through research, coursework, mentorship, and other activities, so that Fellows are equipped with the tools necessary to establish and sustain careers as scientific investigators, contributing to advances in CPC. We select Fellows with interest, experience, and fit with at least one of the five thematic areas (noting that there is often overlap across these areas).

Leadership:

Melinda irwin, phd, mph, program director, xiaomei ma, phd, program director.

Grant provides cancer research training experience to expand workforce for cancer prevention and control

A $1.5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute will help University of Arizona Cancer Center researchers establish a training program geared to introduce students to prevention science careers.

(From left) Jennifer Bea, PhD, and Cynthia Thomson, PhD, RD, lead “Student Transformative Experiences to Progress Undergraduate and Graduate Professionals,” or “STEP-UP,” a 10-week, full-time summer program aimed at motivating students to pursue a career in cancer prevention science.

University of Arizona Cancer Center researchers were awarded a $1.5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to deliver an intensive, multidisciplinary cancer prevention and control research training program for undergraduate and graduate students.

According to multiple principal investigators Jennifer Bea, PhD , and Cynthia Thomson, PhD, RD , the goal of the 10-week, full-time summer program is to motivate students to pursue a career in cancer prevention science.

“I am very concerned about the number of skilled scientists and clinicians retiring,” said Dr. Bea, co-leader of the UArizona Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program and associate professor in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health . “It is absolutely critical to build the next generation of scientists and clinicians to address cancer prevention and control.”

The training program, “Student Transformative Experiences to Progress Undergraduate and Graduate Professionals,” or “STEP-UP,” will immerse 75 upper-division undergraduate students and 25 master’s degree-seeking students in mentored research laboratory experiences. It will allow them to develop knowledge and skills in cancer prevention science across the entire continuum of basic, applied and population research.

The training program is centralized in southern Arizona and offers hands-on research training within the UArizona Cancer Center catchment area, which is rich in diversity. In the area, 31.7% of the population are Hispanic, 5.3% are Native American and 18% of the population are more than 65 years old.

Robin Harris PhD, MPH , professor in the Zuckerman College of Public Health, is project co-investigator for the STEP-UP grant, which evolved from an earlier program, “ Student Transformative Experiences to Progress Under-represented Professionals ,” that ran from 2018 to 2023. In that program, the team enrolled 88 diverse students and retained more than 94% of the students, even though it took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Students participating in STEP-UP have the advantage of establishing not only a foundational knowledge in cancer prevention and control research, but also a network of peers and faculty colleagues who will support their continued professional growth,” said Dr. Thomson, interim associate director for population science at the UArizona Cancer Center and professor in the Zuckerman College of Public Health. “This is clear from our earlier data, where the majority of students in the first STEP-UP program selected to advance their academic pursuits after attending STEP-UP. The pipeline to fill gaps in the diversity of our cancer prevention scientists has been established through STEP-UP."

In the first STEP-UP program, 32% of students went on to complete or enroll in an additional advanced degree, in addition to students who completed undergraduate and master’s degrees that were underway when they enrolled.

“Our students in each cohort form tight bonds with each other, with us, and with their mentors,” Dr. Bea said. “It is so exciting to see their science identity grow and to witness their many successes as they move on from STEP-UP. We get inspiring updates from trainees regularly that range from graduations, new jobs and academic programs to grants and programs they can bring to communities.”

Mentors include more than 35 faculty members from diverse disciplines who are funded in cancer prevention and control research, as well as high-performing STEP-UP trainees from past years.

“Our students would not have the ability to get in-depth training in their specific interest areas without our mentors,” Dr. Bea said. “They learn gold-standard techniques at the bench, theoretical models, community engagement strategies and more from leaders in their field.”

One of the goals of the Cancer Center is to build and sustain the cancer prevention and control workforce of the future. Rather than shadowing mentors, students engage in hands-on research and create supervised experiments, focus groups, surveys and other standard practices based on their mentor’s specialization.

This research is funded by the National Cancer Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, under award no. R25CA275753.

Mark Anthony Febbo UArizona Cancer Center 520-626-2548 [email protected]

National Cancer Institute - Cancer.gov

NCI Cancer Prevention Clinic

Addressing next-generation approaches to clinical management of high-risk individuals and testing of cancer prevention interventions

Patients & Providers

Clinical trials.

The NCI Cancer Prevention Clinic (CPC) conducts research in cancer prevention, early detection and screening for groups at high risk of cancer. Housed in the NCI Center for Cancer Research, the clinic combines expertise from the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) with that of intramural investigators from the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) and the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG). 

The CPC reflects the importance of prevention in ending cancer as we know it. This clinical program supports the evaluation and exploration of primary and secondary cancer prevention through the development of novel agents and the repurposing of therapeutic agents for prevention. Next-generation approaches will be used for early cancer diagnosis and for enhanced management of individuals with a family history of cancer or known cancer-causing mutations.

Learn more about taking part in or partnering with us to enroll a patient in an NCI Cancer Prevention Clinic study. Explore whether one of our trials may be right for you, a patient, or a loved one.

Have questions or need help finding a trial?

Email [email protected], low dose apalutamide pre-prostatectomy.

This phase IIa trial investigates the biomarker (plasma levels of PSA) of low-dose apalutamide in patients with prostate cancer confined in the prostate gland before surgery. Testosterone can cause the growth of prostate cancer cells, and apalutamide blocks the use of testosterone by the tumor cells. Giving low-dose apalutamide before prostate surgery may lead to lowered PSA levels in men with prostate cancer confined to the prostate gland.

Testing the Effects of Low Dose Apalutamide on Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Levels in Men Scheduled for Removal of the Prostate Gland

• Principal Investigator:   Peter A. Pinto, M.D .
• Referral Contact:      Jill Harper , 240.858.7373
• Status : Open - Recruiting

Abemaciclib in NF1 Atypical Neurofibroma

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disease that causes tumors called atypical neurofibromas. These tumors, which arise from nerves, can cause serious medical problems. The only treatment is surgery. Researchers want to see if a drug called abemaciclib can help.

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK)4/6 Inhibitor Abemaciclib for Neurofibromatosis Type I (NF1) Related Atypical Neurofibromas

• Principal Investigator:  Andrea M. Gross, M.D.
• Referral Contact:   Amanda Carbonell , 240.760.6191
• Status: Open - Recruiting

Natural History Study of MTC and MEN2

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare cancer of the thyroid gland. In children and adults, it is often part of a condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2 (MEN2). MEN2 is usually caused by a genetic mutation, and it can cause a number of problems in addition to MTC.  Not much is known about how MTC develops over time, especially in people with MEN2. Researchers want to study MTC in children and adults and see how it affects their growth and development.

Natural History Study of Children and Adults With Medullary Thyroid Cancer

• Principal Investigator:   John W. Glod, M.D., Ph.D.
• Referral Contact:   Anne Goodwin , 240.760.6195

Natural History Study of Rare Solid Tumors

Approximately 150 cases of cancer per one million per year are considered rare cancers. While all tumors originate from genetic changes, a small percentage of these tumors are familial. Researchers want to study these changes in biological samples from people with rare tumors in order to learn more about how these tumors develop. The information obtained from this study may lead to improved screening, preventive guidelines, and treatments.

Natural History and Biospecimen Acquisition for Children and Adults With Rare Solid Tumors

• Principal Investigator:   Mary Frances Wedekind Malone, D.O.   
• Referral Contact:   Barbara Thomas , 240.858.3633

Cancer in Inherited Bone Marrow Failure

This is a natural history study involving questionnaires, clinical and research evaluations, clinical and research laboratory tests, review of medical records, cancer surveillance. A prospective cohort of Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome (IBMFS) will provide new information regarding cancer rates and types in these disorders. Pathogenic variant(s) in IBMFS genes are relevant to carcinogenesis in sporadic cancers. This study will determine whether patients with IBMFS who develop cancer differ in their genetic and/or environmental features from patients with IBMFS who do not develop cancer. These cancer-prone families are well suited for cancer screening and prevention trials targeting those at increased genetic risk of cancer. Carriers of IBMFS gene pathogenic variant(s) are at increased risk of cancer. The prototype disorder is Fanconi Anemia (FA); other IBMFS will also be studied.

Cancer in Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes

• Principal Investigator:   Neelam Giri, M.D., M.B.B.S
• Referral Contact:   NCI Family Study Referrals , 800.518.8474

Clinical, Genetic, Epidemiologic Studies of RASopathies

The RASopathies are a clinically defined group of disorders caused by pathogenic germline variants in genes encoding components of the Ras/mitogen-activated-protein kinase (Ras/MAPK) pathway. These disorders have overlapping clinical features due to Ras/MAPK dysfunction, including a predisposition to the development of certain malignancies. The aims of this prospective longitudinal cohort study are to determine the incidence of malignancy in patients with RASopathies and determine the underlying differences in those who develop tumors as compared to those who do not, in order to inform cancer screening recommendations. In addition, this longitudinal cohort study will provide a better understanding of non-tumor RASopathy manifestations.

Clinical, Genetic, and Epidemiologic Study of Children and Adults With RASopathies

• Principal Investigator:   Douglas Stewart, M.D.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Fanconi Anemia

This is a natural history study involving questionnaires, clinical and research evaluations, clinical and research laboratory tests, review of medical records, and cancer surveillance. A prospective cohort of individuals with Fanconi anemia (FA) at very high risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) will be screened and provide new information on oral potentially malignant lesion (OPML) development and robustly quantify the risk of progression of OPML to cancer in FA.

Defining the Natural History of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Fanconi Anemia

Clinical, Epidemiologic, Genetic Li-Fraumeni Syndrome

This is a natural history study involving questionnaires, clinical and research evaluations, clinical and research laboratory tests, review of medical records, and cancer surveillance. This is a prospective long-term study of individuals at high risk of cancer due to Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) or Li-Fraumeni-Like Syndrome (LFL), using a cohort approach. Enrollees are invited to participate in all aspects of the study but can choose to opt out of specific part(s).

Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Genetic Studies of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome

• Principal Investigator:   Payal Khincha, M.B.B.S., M.S.H.S.

Clinical, Laboratory, and Epidemiologic Characterization of Individuals and Families at High Risk of Melanoma

Melanoma-prone families and individuals with risk factors for melanoma, including people with Spitzoid tumors and giant congenital nevi, are human models of susceptibility to neoplasia from which mechanisms of cancer susceptibility may be elucidated. For most of the high-risk cancer susceptibility genes, including CDKN2A and CDK4 in melanoma-prone families, germline mutations conferring risk have been found through family studies. Investigations of individuals and families at high risk of melanoma have led to etiologic clues that are important in the general population and have identified persons most likely to benefit from chemoprevention trials and screening programs aimed at early diagnosis of melanoma.

• Principal Investigator:   Michael Sargen, M.D.

Steering Committee Co-Chairs

Co-Directors

NCI Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program

The NCI Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program (CPFP) is a multidisciplinary postdoctoral program that trains future leaders in the field of cancer prevention and control. Founded in 1987, the NCI CPFP provides its fellows an opportunity to develop an independent research program in cancer prevention while being mentored by the world-class researchers and clinicians at NCI.   Learn more .

NIH Hematology Oncology Fellowship Program

Training the next generation of clinicians and physician-scientists

The mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Hematology Oncology Fellowship is to use the unique clinical and basic research resources of the NIH to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hematologic and oncologic diseases by developing and training the next generation of clinicians and physician scientists. This program is jointly sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Learn more .

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Innovation in Cancer Prevention Research

Apply for the summer 2024 innovation in cancer prevention research experience for undergraduates, a uthealth and cancer prevention research institute of texas (cprit) partnership..

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Undergraduate Summer Research Experience

Summer 2024 uthealth - cancer prevention research institute of texas (cprit).

Innovation in Cancer Prevention Research Experience for Undergraduates

June 3rd through August 9th, 2024

Stipends for 10 weeks are $6,000, fully funded by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas grant.

Do you like to think outside of the box?

This quality cancer education and career development program offers placements with accomplished researchers at the McGovern Medical School and MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Houston and the UTHealth School of Public Health in Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Brownsville, and El Paso.

The program’s unique focus on helping trainees learn to ask important  research questions and apply cutting-edge methods to stimulate innovative thinking to their projects.

Applications for trainee positions are open now and linked below!

Trainee applications are available at: https://redcap.link/2024CPRIT-summer-program  

Interviews are typically from late February through March 

The first round of decisions begins in the first week of March 

Applications for faculty mentors are open now and linked below!

Mentor applications are available at: https://redcap.link/2024-summer-mentor-application  

Questions?   Email [email protected]  

About CPRIT - http://www.cprit.state.tx.us/  

Undergraduate Trainee Comments and Trainee Publications

“I really appreciated not only doing the scientific research but also the training we received on innovation and public speaking. I also enjoyed going to the research poster/speech event before going to the mid-course dinner. The program was excellent and I would recommend it to others.” “I loved this program. Great program for undergraduates to see into the world of research through great mentors.” “All in all a wonderful experience, I learned a lot.” “Overall, the experience in this program was excellent!” 

Select Trainee Publications

What will trainees be doing?

Work with UTHealth faculty mentors and their research teams for 10 weeks to complete a research project in cancer prevention and incorporate Tools for Innovation .

Each week, you will engage in research, cancer seminars, and professional development workshops Monday through Friday from 8 am - 5 pm.

Take the Massive Open Online Course on innovative thinking by Roberta B. Ness, MD, MPH, who literally wrote the book(s) on innovation.

Click on the photo below to see Dr. Ness’ TEDx Houston talk, " Innovative thinking: Can you be taught? "

Do puzzles, problem-solving, and exercises in the review sessions anchored by senior doctoral and postdoctoral fellows. 

Attend seminars led by faculty on ongoing cancer research.

Perfect skills in scientific presentations.

In our Closing Ceremony, all trainees will present posters on their research projects, and finalists will compete in the elevator speech finals

Review the 2021 Poster Winners.

Watch the 2019 Elevator Speech Audition Videos:

1st Place Winner

2nd Place Winner

3rd Place Winner

Project profiles

Mentors have proposed cancer-related projects that provide a wide variety of experiences. Mentor’s CVs are posted on the websites of their schools.

Austin UTHealth School of Public Health-Austin Campus

Courtney Byrd-Williams, PhD Matched Project: Extreme heat and preschooler activity during outdoor play in the childcare setting

San Antonio UTHealth School of Public Health-San Antonio Campus

Jack Tsai, PhD Matched Project: Providing health preventative services in laundromats

Brownsville UTHealth School of Public Health-Brownsville Campus

Belinda Reininger, PhD   Matched Project: Your Health Matters in the Rio Grande Valley

Houston UTHealth School of Public Health-Houston Campus

Irene Tami-Maury, PhD Matched Project: Tailored cancer prevention and control efforts targeting sexual and gender minority groups

Lara Savas, PhD Matched Project: Salus en Mis Manos (SEMM): Community-engaged approach to inform and disseminate SEMM evaluation reports to community stakeholders

Ross Shegog, PhD Matched Project: Health Native Youth: HPV among AI/AN youth

UTHealth McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics

Muhammad Amith, PhD (1) Matched Project: Developing informatics tools for social and behavioral sciences in service of cancer prevention research

Muhammad Amith, PhD (2) Matched Project: Improving Patient-Provider Communication and Relationship Towards Cancer Prevention in Dental Care

Yang Gong, MD, PhD Matched Project: Empowering patients taking oral anti-cancer agents

Kirk Roberts, PhD Matched Project: How can Large Language Models help prevent cancer?

UTHealth McGovern Medical School

Arash Kamali, PhD   Matched Project: The Use of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Values in Differentiating Avastin-Related Cytotoxicity from Tumor Recurrence and Radiation Necrosis in Glioblastoma

UTHealth Cizik School of Nursing

Stacey Crane, PhD Matched Project: Development of a Web-Based Interface to Support Self/Parent Symptom Assessments for Children with Cancer

Janet Van Cleave, PhD Matched Project: Implementing the Electronic Patient Visit Assessment (ePVA) for Head and Neck Cancer at UTHealth Houston

TIRR Memorial Hermann

Lex Frieden, MA, LLD Matched Project: Cancer Survivorship and Disability Identity

How to apply 

Trainee applications are open now for summer 2024!

Apply at: https://redcap.link/2024CPRIT-summer-program  

All application materials (including one letter of recommendation, CV/Resume, required essay, unofficial transcripts, and the online application) will be due on January 17th, 2024 at 11:59 pm CST.

Eligibility requirements:

• Open to all undergraduates except seniors graduating before Fall 2024.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA required
• Students must reside in Texas during the summer program to receive a $6,000 stipend
• Applicants from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented minority students, students from economically disadvantaged and underserved backgrounds, and students with disabilities, are highly encouraged to apply

Semi-finalists will be notified by early February 2024.

Trainee interviews for final selection will be conducted in late February through March 2024.

If you have additional questions or would like more information about CPRIT Summer Undergraduate Research, please contact:

How to apply to be a mentor

We are accepting mentor applications for summer 2024. Please complete an application at https://redcap.link/2024-summer-mentor-application  

Applications due on January 29th, 2024 at 11:59 pm CST.

Guide  for writing short a description of the trainee’s project.

Comments from previous Mentors

"I have participated in the CPRIT Undergraduate Research Experience for the last few years and each time I find it to be an incredibly rewarding experience. The students get exposed to cutting edge approaches and topics in biomedical research, and the mentors get the satisfaction of introducing modern research to their trainees. In addition, the program really teaches the students to approach their research with an eye to innovation and impact. Most of the students that I have interacted with have found this program to be extremely useful in defining their future career goals." - Jeffrey Frost, PhD

"Through the CPRIT Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, our entire team was urged to expand our viewpoints and reach for novelty in every aspect of our student’s project. We held a clear vision of our project goal, but let the methods for reaching that goal remain fluid. On the first day that our student arrived, she and I sat in my office and made a plan for her to produce a poster and talk that would win awards, and she did! More importantly, it was always our goal to generate a paper with our student out of her summer work, and we’re finishing that manuscript now." - Daniel Harrington, PhD

"I have served as the mentor for three CPRIT undergraduate students over the past two years. It has been a very rewarding experience for both me and the summer students who worked in my lab.  The CPRIT program allows the mentor and the students to work on biomedical research of their interests. All my CPRIT summer students were able to complete research projects that lead to peer-reviewed full articles." - Tao Cui, PhD

"During 2015 summer, we actively engaged in the program and recruited a rising sophomore in Computer Science at UT Austin to our Patient Safety project. The experience stimulated enthusiasm for scientific research, which will be helpful for determining her career goal. On the other hand, her participation brought novel ideas to our project and accelerated our research progress." -  Yang Gong, MD, PhD

"My CPRIT fellows were great. They were very creative, action-oriented, and hard workers. They contributed significantly to adding different perspectives/components to the operation of my projects. Specifically, they created a video that introduces our study to participants, set up the study's twitter and Facebook accounts, and study website. They also actively participated in weekly project meetings proposing new ideas and expressing their opinions. I believe that CPRIT summer program provides fellows with great opportunities to think creatively, implement their ideas, and learn how research is conducted, while tackling challenging issues encounter in project operations." -  Kayo Fujimoto, PhD

Frequently asked questions by applicants

Q: Who is eligible to apply? A: All undergraduate students in colleges and universities across the United States who will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors in the fall semester of 2024

Q: What is the schedule for the summer program? A: Each week, you will engage in research, cancer seminars, and professional development workshops Monday through Friday (40 hours/full-time).

Q: Can I apply if I have a GPA of less than 3.0? A: Applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Q: Is this internship only for students interested in pre-medicine? A: No, we encourage students from all majors and programs to apply.   

Q: Can I submit unofficial transcripts?  A: Unofficial transcripts will suffice during the review of your application. If accepted to the fellowship, official transcripts will be required before you can be appointed. If you believe your official transcript will not arrive before the deadline, we suggest submitting unofficial transcripts with your application. Request official transcripts from your university as soon as possible.

Q: I am an international student on an F1 visa. Can I apply for this fellowship? A: Yes. International students currently enrolled in a US college or university can also apply. After acceptance into the program, you will be required to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) from the office of international affairs in your home institution.

Q: Can I submit a letter of recommendation, or does it have to be sent directly by the recommender? A: Our online application contains a section where you can identify your recommender. They should send their recommendation letter directly to us at [email protected] . Although we may accept letters sent directly by you, this practice is strongly discouraged.

Q: Do all materials need to be sent electronically? A: The application is now available online. You will have the opportunity to submit your materials within the application. Please follow the directions listed on the application regarding the naming convention of files.

Q: I was selected as a semifinalist. What does that mean? A: It means that you have been selected to indicate your top project choices and to participate in interviews that will be conducted by faculty mentors. Final selections will be made based on the interviews. The mentors and their individual projects will be listed on the website under the "Project Profile" tab in late January. In the meantime, you can view past projects listed on the page. 

SEE OUR IMPACT

Conducting needs assessments and "meeting people where they are".

UTHealth School of Public Health researchers work to bridge that gap between what intervention programs offer versus what's needed by creating programs based on input from the individuals who have lived the experiences. 

READ MORE SPH - Our Impact - Meeting People Where They Are

Alumnus appointed to Texas Radiation Advisory Board

 Dr. William “Will” Pate, was appointed to the Texas Radiation Advisory Board (TRAB) and will remain in this position until the end of his term on April 16, 2023. Dr. Pate is one of 10 Texas professionals appointed to this board.

READ MORE SPH - Our Impact - Pate

Carol Huber appointed to the Value Based Payment and Quality Improvement Advisory Committee for Texas

Huber will serve as a member representing regional healthcare partnerships.

READ MORE SPH - Our Impact 2020 - Carol Huber appointed to Value Based Payment and Quality Improvement Advisory Committee for Texas

Meeting the public health education needs of the Permian Basin community

UTHealth School of Public Health and the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) College of Business have partnered to provide graduate students with the opportunity to earn a Graduate Certificate in Public Health while simultaneously earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) beginning Spring 2020.

READ MORE UTPB Partnership Certificate SPH - Our Impact - UTPB Partnership Certificate

Preventing and caring for HIV in homeless youth

 Alexis Sims, a doctoral student in health promotion and behavioral sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, has been awarded a $100,000 supplemental research grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate HIV prevention and care in homeless youth.

READ MORE SPH - Our Impact - NIH funding for HIV

Fighting back against the vaping epidemic among youth

As e-cigarette use by young people reaches epidemic proportions, researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) have received a $3.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to conduct the first-ever assessment on the long-term results of a nationwide nicotine vaping prevention program for youth called CATCH My Breath.

READ MORE SPH - Our Impact - vaping epidemic

Leading data collection effort aimed at reducing teen pregnancy

The data collection effort, expected to take six months, is the second part of a yearlong planning phase to address the issue of pregnancy prevention among children in foster care. Melissa Peskin, PhD, associate professor with UTHealth School of Public Health, will lead the effort.

READ MORE SPH - Our Impact - CLYC slider

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News & Events

From c-suite to classroom: leticia flores.

Meet the Class of 2024 

Students in the first cohort of the executive-style MPH in Healthcare Management program in El Paso will graduate in May 2024. Celebrate with us as we share their journeys and explore how they are making an impact on their community.? 

Nearly $4 Million Awarded for Adolescent Cancer Research

Assistant Professor Paula Cuccaro, PhD; Professor Ross Shegog, PhD; and Associate Professor Lara Savas, PhD, were awarded $3,996,163 from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to develop adolescent cancer prevention research. These awards were part of a $100 million grant to continue Texas's initiatives to build cancer research and represent the country's most significant state initiative to combat cancer.  

School of Public Health Ranked Top 25 Best Public Health School by U.S. News

UTHealth Houston School of Public Health has achieved top 25 ranking among 209 graduate schools of public health, according to the U.S. News & World Report .  

Among publicly-funded institutions offering graduate-level degrees in public health, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health ranks No. 9 nationally, and holds its position as No. 1 in Texas

Brighter Bites: A Model for Community-Academic Partnership to Improve Health

UTHealth Houston School of Public Health Center for Health Equity and Brighter Bites have recently hit the national spotlight through two initiatives- the Harvard Agribusiness Seminar and the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities.

PhD Candidate Explores Link Between Protein Intake and Health Outcomes

Ji Yun Tark, MPH, a PhD candidate in epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, is investigating the associations between protein consumption and hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). For Tark, the complex link between nutrition and health outcomes is critical for public health research.

CHPPR and Healthy Futures of Texas Collaborate to Evaluate Impact of Opt-In Sexual Health Education Policy in Texas

CHPPR investigators and Healthy Futures of Texas collaborated to conduct a first-of-its-kind evaluation of a diverse, bipartisan sample of Texas school representatives to determine the impacts of Texas’s new sex education opt-in law, which requires written parental consent for sex education or abuse prevention instruction.

The Buzz on Genome Editing

Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes such as malaria, Zika, and dengue pose significant global public health concerns. Researchers at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health are responding by launching a novel mosquito vivarium to develop genetic strategies for controlling these diseases.  

Study assessing elementary school teachers’ health outcomes and dietary behaviors published

The study found that 32 percent of teachers reported being food insecure, indicating a chronic lack of access to enough food in their household. Teachers consumed less than recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fiber, dairy, and calcium but consumed more sugar than daily recommendations.   

CATCH Healthy Smiles: Transforming Children's Oral Health through Healthy Nutrition and Dental Care

UTHealth Houston School of Public Health's CATCH Healthy Smiles program transforms smiles through nutrition.

Connecting Data Points in Healthcare Management: Juan Nañez

Students in the first cohort of the executive-style MPH in Healthcare Management program in El Paso will graduate in May 2024. Celebrate with us as we share their journeys and explore how they are making an impact on their community.?

Physical activity, planetary health, and equity: building synergies to maximize impact

12:00:00 PM - 1:00:00 PM GoTo Webinar

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Mackenzie Senn, MPH: Relationship Between Food Insecurity, Diet Quality, Eating Behavior, and BMI

3:00:00 PM - 4:15:00 PM Microsoft Teams

Training Program: UH Community Health Workers Initiative

8:00:00 AM - 2:00:00 PM University of Houston’s Student Center South, 4455 University Drive Houston, TX 77204-3049

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Chunhui Gu: Leveraging Multi-omics to Enhance High-throughput Proteomics via Graph Neural Network

2:00:00 PM - 3:00:00 PM Zoom

Texas Public Health Association 100th Annual Education Conference

8:00:00 AM - 12:00:00 AM Galveston, TX

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Matthew Roth, MPH: Laboratory Testing Delays Association with Emergency Department Length of Stay

10:00:00 AM - 12:00:00 PM Microsoft Teams

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Zack Becker, MPH: Infectious Biological Agent Exposure Among Laboratory Workers in the US

2:00:00 PM - 3:00:00 PM RAS E-605

Food as Medicine Strategy Summit

8:00:00 AM - 5:00:00 PM The Westin, Washington, DC Downtown

Dissertation Defense by John S Finnell, ND, MPH, MS, LAc: The Interdisciplinary Management of Complex Chronic Pain in Veterans

12:00:00 PM - 2:00:00 PM WebEx and Austin Regional Campus: Room (TBD)

Center for Global Health Research and Training Programs

The Center for Global Health (CGH) funds research to reduce the global burden of cancer and offers research training opportunities for investigators to strengthen their research abilities. 

Research Programs

CGH leads and coordinates research programs to accelerate knowledge for global cancer control. This includes development of innovative technologies that can be employed in global settings, advancing global cancer implementation science, addressing determinants of global cancer health disparities, increasing support for cancer clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and increasing understanding of cancer etiology and biology through global collaborations. 

Explore CGH research funding opportunities . CGH encourages new investigators, early-stage investigators, and investigators in LMICs to apply. 

For opportunities across NCI, see NCI research funding opportunities . 

Some of CGH’s research programs include

• Affordable Cancer Technologies (ACTs) Program 
• Implementation Science 
• Global Tobacco Control Research  

Research Training

Studying cancer in global settings, particularly in LMICs, offers unique opportunities to advance cancer knowledge. These opportunities include, but are not limited to, advancing knowledge about the biology and genetic basis of cancer, understanding cancer epidemiology, including that of geographically endemic cancers, and investigations in population sciences that can provide novel and low-cost approaches to primary and secondary prevention as well as diagnosis and treatment of cancer. 

A well-trained workforce is central to pursuing these unique opportunities. The global cancer research training portfolio at CGH seeks to develop such a workforce and enable institutions and individuals to strengthen their capacity to conduct global research. Additionally, supporting scientists from the United States and LMICs will add to the diversity of the cancer research workforce—a key element of the NCI Equity and Inclusion Program .  

Impact of Training 

By improving how people study cancer in global and LMIC settings, CGH creates unique opportunities to advance cancer knowledge and control strategies. These include advancing knowledge about the biology and genetic basis of cancer, understanding cancer epidemiology for common and geographically endemic cancers, and investigating population sciences for novel and low-cost approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and primary and secondary prevention. 

Our program develops initiatives that support institutions and individuals conducting global cancer research. Training and supporting a diverse cancer research workforce are critical to the NCI enterprise and are also critical to achieving CGH goals. This includes support for LMIC investigators and institutions to enable them to rigorously ask and answer research questions that are relevant locally and globally. It also includes support for US investigators and institutions to support scientific careers focused on global cancer research. 

To date, CGH has supported participation by LMIC investigators in relevant NCI didactic courses, such as the NCI Summer Curriculum in Cancer Prevention. It has supported exchanges between LMIC and intramural scientists through the Short-Term Scientist Exchange Program and between LMIC and extramural researchers through the Cancer Research Training Travel Awards. It has supported research training and capacity-building efforts led by Fogarty International Center  through co-funding of K01/K43 awards for global cancer early-career investigators from the United States and LMICs. It has also supported Fogarty International Center D43 global health institutional research training programs and R25 programs focused on research bioethics capacity in LMICs. 

More recently, CGH has led NCI’s D43 program focused on strengthening institutional capacity for global cancer research in LMICs. To achieve CGH training goals and priorities outlined in the 2021–2025 CGH’s Strategic Plan, we will collaborate with partners in addition to Fogarty International Center, including NCI’s Center for Cancer Training, Office of Cancer Centers, and Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. 

Open Research Training Opportunities 

• K01 Funding Opportunity Announcements 
• K43 Funding Opportunity Announcements  
• D43 Funding Opportunity Announcements  

Research Training Programs 

• D43 Awards  
• K01 Awards  
• K43 Awards  

Previously Funded Research Training Programs 

• NCI Summer Curriculum in Cancer Prevention  
• Short-Term Scientist Exchange Program 
• Cancer Research Training Travel Awards  

How to Connect 

We welcome the opportunity to discuss your ideas, provide guidance on how and where you can apply for research training support, and offer resources for mentorship and research training. 

To learn more, please email [email protected] with “training” in the subject line. 

Training Collaborators 

CGH training programs have partners from within and outside the US government who share the goal of building a trained research workforce. 

These include NCI’s Center for Cancer Training , Office of HIV/AIDS Malignancy ,  Office of Cancer Centers , and the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities as well as the NIH Fogarty International Center. CGH also collaborates with US and international organizations who support research training, such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Union of International Cancer Control, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. These collaborations include co-funding of projects, development of collaborative programs in research training, and serving as a resource for common training goals. 

Program Description

Preventing cancer is one of the most important scientific and public health aims for the 21st Century. To achieve that goal, the Nation needs leaders: scientists and health professionals trained in the principles and practice of cancer prevention and control.

Founded in 1987, the NCI Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program (CPFP) provides its fellows an opportunity to develop an independent research program in cancer prevention. The centerpiece of the program is mentored, multidisciplinary research. With input from senior scientists and program staff, each fellow develops original scientific projects and reports findings at meetings and in leading journals.

The program provides:

• Competitive stipends, relocation expenses, health insurance benefits, and travel allowances
• Support for up to four years
• Opportunity to earn your M.P.H., sponsored by NCI
• Research opportunities with experienced NCI mentors
• A cohort of fellows spanning STEM and other fields

Our program is regularly evaluated and growing. Our alumni across the country are taking the lead at cancer centers, universities, government agencies, research firms, and policy organizations, and in clinical practice. Many former fellows now act as mentors, assisting those who are following in their footsteps.

We are committed to providing a comprehensive postdoctoral program that is flexible enough to permit individual creativity and resourceful enough to provide opportunities for meaningful discoveries. Unlike some postdoctoral programs, our fellows have the opportunity to select their own preceptors , and develop and lead research activities based on their own interests.

World Class Training Opportunities

Research opportunities for Cancer Prevention Fellows reflect the broad origins and applications of many biomedical sciences relevant to public health and clinical medicine. The program offers opportunities for basic science laboratory studies, epidemiologic studies, intervention trials, health services research, and studies of the biological and social aspects of health behavior. Further, an initiative of the  NCI and the FDA allows fellows to apply research in drugs, biologics, medical devices, and other areas to the field of cancer prevention.

We encourage you to learn more about the unique features of the CPFP through testimonials from current fellows and alumni by viewing this short video .

On behalf of all of us who are committed to eliminating death and suffering from cancer—patients, physicians and nurses, researchers, other scientists, and the general public—we urge you to join us in this endeavor. Please read the eligibility requirements and submit your application . We look forward to hearing from you.

Find a Training Program

The National Cancer Institute is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training. With Maryland campuses in Bethesda, Shady Grove, and Frederick, prospective trainees will have the opportunity to conduct basic, clinical, or genomic and population-based research.

Follow the steps below to browse training programs by career stage and training opportunity.

Step 1 of 3: Choose a Career Stage selecting a career stage will add more information below.

Step 2 of 3: choose one or more training opportunities.

A postbaccalaureate fellowship is an opportunity to spend up to two years conducting full-time research at the NCI. This fellowship is an excellent choice for a recent undergraduate looking to conduct research during a gap year.

Predoctoral fellowships are for graduate students pursuing a PhD, MD, DDS, DVM, or equivalent who are interested in completing a part or the entirety of their dissertation work with an investigator at the NCI.

A postdoctoral fellowship is for recent doctoral recipients to spend up to five years designing and executing research projects with access to state-of-the-art technologies, data sources, and research cores.

Summer internships provide a minimum 8-week full-time research opportunity at the NCI through the NIH Summer Internship Program. There are opportunities for students enrolled in high school through graduate school.

Academic internships allow high school, college, and university students an opportunity to train in NIH laboratories during the academic year. Students will conduct biomedical research at the NCI, while continuing their academic studies in their home institutions.

Step 3 of 3: Choose a Program to Apply to

Cancer research interns summer program.

Initial training opportunity with the goal to enhance diversity within the NCI trainee population. A minimum 8-week paid internship to conduct basic, epidemiologic, genomic, behavioral, clinical, translational, or other research at the NCI.

Cancer Research Postbac Program

Cohort program providing training for up to 2 years, a travel award, and additional career and professional development opportunities. Individuals from groups underrepresented in biomedical science are encouraged to apply.

Postdoc Recruitment Event

Introduces doctoral candidates to the NCI and provides an opportunity to network and explore postdoctoral opportunities within its intramural research programs. Individuals from underrepresented groups in biomedical research are encouraged to submit applications.

Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program

Supports fellows spanning STEM and other fields for cutting-edge research at the NCI and FDA for up to four years.

Interagency Oncology Task Force Fellowship

Trains scientists in research and research-related regulatory review, policies, and regulations to develop a skill set that bridges the two disparate processes.

Werner H. Kerstin Program

One-year internship opportunity designed to expose high school seniors to research and administrative management in a health care environment.

iCURE: Intramural Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences

Supports mentored research experiences for qualified students and scientists from diverse backgrounds in the multidisciplinary research environment of the NCI campuses.

NIH Summer Internship Programs

Students interested in exploring careers in all areas of cancer research join the NCI for at least eight weeks and work under the supervision of an NCI researcher.

NIH Graduate Partnerships Program

Dissertation research with an emphasis on communication, collaboration, integration of information, and interdisciplinary investigation in the NIH Intramural Research Program.

NCI Communications Fellowship

NCF fellows are offered one-year fellowships in various communications and science-focused offices at NCI.

NCI Technology Transfer Fellowship

Apply a science, legal or business background to a career in technology transfer, and/or create a new competency.

Other pathways

Don't forget you can use any of the available pathways to obtain a fellowship at the NCI.

This is the most common way, but the success rate is variable.

Your information becomes available to investigators seeking to fill positions. However, the system is currently unable to match you to an investigator or available position. To increase your chances of success, you should also identify specific investigators that match your research interests and inquire about position availability.

NCI Divisions, Offices, Centers often post current vacancy announcements. Opportunities are posted on the CCR , DCEG , DCCPS , and DCP websites.

Learning Through Doing: Comprehensive Programming for a Training Program in Cancer Disparities

Affiliations.

• 1 Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA. [email protected].
• 2 George R. Brown School of Engineering-Active Engineering Communication Program, Houston, TX, USA.
• 3 Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
• 4 School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
• 5 Department of Epidemiology, Cancer Prevention Research Training Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
• PMID: 36495396
• PMCID: PMC9736701
• DOI: 10.1007/s13187-022-02235-y

In the United States, preparing researchers and practitioners for careers in cancer requires multiple components for success. In this reflection article, we discuss our approach to designing a comprehensive research training program in cancer disparities. We focused on elements that provide students and early career scientists a deep understanding of disparities through first-hand experiences and skills training necessary to build a research career in the area. Our Educational Program sits within the framework of an NCI P20 program, "UHAND (University of Houston/MD Anderson Cancer Center)", jointly established by an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center and a minority-serving university as a collaborative partnership devoted to the elimination of cancer inequities among disproportionately affected racial and ethnic groups (UHAND Program to Reduce Cancer Disparities; NCI P20CA221696/ P20CA221697). The Education Program was designed to build on and enhance skills that are critical to pursuing a career in cancer disparities research at the undergraduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral levels-such as scientific communication, career planning and development, professional and community-based collaboration, and resilience in addition to solid scientific training. As such, our program integrates (1) opportunities for learning through service to community organizations providing resources to populations with documented cancer disparities, (2) a tailored curriculum of learning activities with program leadership and mentored research with scientists focused on cancer disparities and cancer prevention, (3) professional development training critical to career success in disparities research, and (4) support to address unique challenges faced by trainees from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in research.

Keywords: Cancer prevention research training; Disparities; Educational approaches; Graduate education; Research workforce.

© 2022. The Author(s).

Publication types

• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
• Curriculum*
• Minority Groups
• Neoplasms* / prevention & control
• United States

Grants and funding

• P20CA221696/National Cancer Institute (US)
• P20CA221697/National Cancer Institute (US)