The National Cancer Institute has awarded a five-year, $1.3 million grant to support a collaborative undergraduate program, led by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, North Carolina Central University, and N.C. A&T State University, aimed at preparing students from underrepresented groups for careers in biomedical cancer research.
The program is led by Temitope Keku, MSc, MSPH, PhD, UNC Lineberger, principal investigator; Ashley Leak Bryant, PhD, RN, OCN, FAAN, UNC Lineberger, co-principal investigator; Wendy Heck Grillo, PhD, NCCU, and Checo Rorie, PhD, N.C. A&T, co-investigators; and Sherette Godfrey, PhD, UNC Lineberger, project manager.
Beginning next summer, the Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program (CUREP) will provide 12 undergraduate students with a 10-week summer program of hands-on cancer research, professional development and year-long academic coaching. The program will focus on first-generation college students, those from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and those with limited prior research experience.
“Cancer disproportionately affects Black Americans and other economically disadvantaged communities, yet they are underrepresented in cancer research,” said Keku, professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at UNC School of Medicine. “We created this program to make careers in cancer research more accessible by providing participants the opportunity to expand their knowledge, explore various aspects of cancer research, and develop the skills needed for successful careers in cancer research.”
One of the strengths of CUREP is its partnership with the exceptionally productive biomedical and scientific research programs at the three universities, two of which are historically Black colleges and universities, NCCU and N.C. A&T. It also builds on previous collaborations with NCCU that focused on cancer health disparities and career development in cancer clinical research.
The program is designed to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience in cancer research during a ten-week internship; increase student interest in pursuing careers in cancer research by offering professional development activities essential for gaining admission to graduate and professional schools; and provide year-long group coaching to help students integrate academic and life skills, as well as increase their chances of completing their degrees.
The students will work directly with principal investigators conducting cancer research. These faculty mentors come from diverse backgrounds and possess expertise in basic cancer biology, population science, translational cancer research and cancer disparities.
“CUREP’s innovative approach combines academic rigor with essential life skills coaching, offering a well-rounded program that prepares students for the complexities of a research career,” said Leak Bryant, Frances Hill Fox Distinguished Term Professor at UNC School of Nursing and assistant director of the Cancer Research Training Education Coordination program at UNC Lineberger. “The students will experience firsthand what a research career can offer them, whether in a lab or on a team specializing in population science. They will receive training in ethics and participate in various professional and career development activities. All of this will culminate with research presentations at the end of the summer.”
The NCI grant will support CUREP in mentoring 60 undergraduate students during the next five years.
“Making careers in cancer research more accessible to the best and brightest minds is key to deepening our knowledge of cancer and developing new treatments,” said Robert Ferris, MD, PhD, executive director of UNC Lineberger and head of Oncology Services at UNC Health. “With our three schools bringing in talented and passionate students, this program can guide them toward becoming successful scientists and future leaders in cancer research.”