Comprehensive Cancer Center Program at Fox Chase

Research Inst Of Fox Chase Can Ctr, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY Over its eleven-year history, GMaP Region 4 has been highly successful in developing and utilizing effective strategies for enhancing research, training, and outreach/education in the areas of cancer and cancer health disparities and biospecimen research participation. GMaP Region 4 covers the 13 states of Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. Our Administrative Core, based at Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC), is staffed by a strong, dedicated team working in close collaboration with our enduring regional External Advisory Board (EAB) composed of both senior and early stage investigators (ESIs). Our EAB are leaders at their respective institutions, many of whom have benefited from and encourage their colleagues and mentees to seek NCI Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) funding. In addition, the Administrative Core team has been together since the GMaP inception and has had strong senior leadership support from our Cancer Center Director and Cancer Center Leadership team. We have strong institutional support and are integrated with our Community Outreach and Engagement and Academic Affairs departments. Region 4 has shown great achievements in establishing a strong and collaborative membership, a research base for future science, and the ability to make connections that promote scientific growth and professional development. Our membership has grown from 140 members to over 900 investigators from around the region, including many current/former/potential CURE trainees. We typically identify 50+ new members each year and have networked 133 potential CURE scholars to CRCHD over the program history, many of whom have gone on to successful awards. We have provided 123 travel awards and 7 mentored grant application reviews (4 awarded, 2 pending, 1 resubmitted and pending). Our pilot program has resulted in three 2017 pilot grants which have fostered 17 publications, 12 oral and 2 poster presentations, and 9 applications for funding (1 awarded, 6 not awarded, 2 pending). In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, we funded four pilot grants in March 2020 slated to be completed by June 2021 in place of travel awards and in-person networking. This combination of strong leadership, dedicated diverse membership, and career-building programs to support underrepresented investigators has been a winning combination. Over the next 2 years, we will continue to meet our goals through our existing programs, expand and strengthen our diverse network, develop and conduct a mixed-methods evaluation with our members and scholars, work with CRCHD and the Diversity Training Branch (DTB) to transition our scholars and network to a sustainable model connected to CRCHD and DTB, and measure the impact of these efforts.