Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program

Univ Of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC

Investigators

Abstract

Cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and across the world. Approximately 2 million new cases are diagnosed annually, and about 600,000 people die from the disease in any given year. The Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program (CUREP) aims to address cancer by expanding the pool of future cancer researchers within the biomedical workforce, with a long-term goal of enhancing cancer prevention, treatment, and clinical outcomes. We propose to achieve this by recruiting outstanding undergraduate students pursuing a STEM major, such as Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Public Health, Nursing, and other biomedical sciences, and providing them with hands-on research experience, career development, and professional coaching through a summer undergraduate research program in basic science and public health cancer research. The program has three specific aims: 1) Provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience in cancer research during a ten-week summer internship. 2) Increase student interest in pursuing careers in cancer research by offering professional development activities essential for gaining admission to graduate and professional schools. 3) Provide year-long group coaching (covering summer, fall, and spring) to help students integrate academic and life skills and increase their chances of successfully completing their undergraduate degrees. CUREP offers participants opportunities to expand their knowledge, explore various aspects of cancer research, and develop the skills needed for successful careers in cancer research. The program's key components include direct research experience under the guidance of principal investigators conducting cancer research. These faculty mentors possess expertise in basic cancer biology, population science, translational cancer research, and cancer health outcomes. Our program's structure builds upon previous experiences in undergraduate summer programs. Our innovative approach integrates academic study with life skills coaching, creating a comprehensive program to prepare young scientists for future challenges. Students will conduct independent research under the supervision of PI mentors, graduate students, and postdocs in laboratories or research teams specializing in population science. Their research experiences will be complemented by training in ethics and various professional and career development activities, culminating in research presentations at the end of the summer. A distinguishing feature of CUREP is its yearlong coaching component, encompassing study skills, academic writing, time management, self-efficacy, career planning, and wellness. This holistic approach enables participants to integrate academic and social/life skills effectively. Ultimately, CUREP aims to increase the participation of undergraduate students pursuing careers in cancer research, thereby enhancing the biomedical workforce.