CCSG Supplement: To Strengthen the Research, Training, and Outreach Capacity

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle WA

Investigators

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Abstract

Abstract The Fred Hutchinson/University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium is deeply committed to increasing the diversity of the cancer research workforce. Central to our efforts is enhancing our existing partnerships with Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), as well as developing new partnerships. Summer undergraduate training programs currently exist between our cancer center and Morehouse College (a HBCU), Spelman College (a HBCU), and New Mexico State University (a Hispanic-Serving Institution). Additionally, we have experience identifying and supporting the career development of scholars and early-stage investigators throughout the west coast through our 10+ year history leading our region’s NCI-funded Center to Reduce Cancer Disparities (CRCHD) Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP). In particular, our current 2-year GMaP cycle directly engaged with 83 potential CURE scholars and supported them by providing annual career development workshops, expert grant reviews, research stimulus awards, and conference travel awards. Thus, we are ideally positioned to execute this supplement and achieve each of the following specific aims: Aim 1: Identify URM trainees and ESIs through our cancer center’s Minority Serving Institution (MSI) partners and engage them in the NCI/NIH-supported scholar pathway programs with an emphasis on those interested in cancer health disparities research. Aim 2: Provide robust and comprehensive support for the career development of URM trainees and ESIs by providing career development workshops tailored to their specific needs, 1:1 support for grant writing through leveraging our team of Training Navigators (TNs), and awarding travel scholarships. Aim 3: Track and monitor the progress and productivity of newly identified URM scholars and develop tailored strategies to support each of their longer-term career development plans. A critical element of our program is our cadre of 8 Training Navigators who are faculty at our cancer center and all of whom themselves are underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities based on the NIH definition. Our aims will be completed through partnering with a total of 8 MSIs including five that we have existing collaborative programs/relationships with (Morehouse College, New Mexico State University, Spelman College, the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Guam) and three that are new partnerships (Clark Atlanta University, Diné College, and Stillman College). Of note, these institutions include a mix of four HBCUs, two Hispanic-Serving Institutions, one Tribal College, and two Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions.