# Research Education Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · DANA-FARBER CANCER INST · 2020 · $68,080

## Abstract

Summary: The Research Education Core (REC) of the UMass Boston – Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center
U54 Partnership seeks to increase the number of individuals, especially those from underrepresented
populations, who pursue graduate degrees and careers in cancer research, health disparities, and/or
biomedical science. By ensuring high-quality research experiences, strong mentoring, and the development of
specialized skills, the Core will encourage and prepare promising students for a research career. The
framework for the Research Education Core focuses on three areas critical to the development of research
scientists: 1) acquisition of scientific knowledge; 2) development of communication skills; and 3)
individualized career preparation. Promising students who are at different levels in the pipeline continuum will
be selected through a competitive process to participate in a multi-year educational experience tailored to their
individual needs and educational level — undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral — at
least 150 students will be educated over the five years of the grant. At the undergraduate level, students will
work on projects full and part-time during the summer (10-15 weeks) and part-time during the academic year.
At the post-baccalaureate level, college graduates interested in pursuing doctoral study in biomedical/social-
behavioral cancer and cancer disparities research will engage in a one-year intensive research education
experience. At the postdoctoral level, fellows in nursing, the basic sciences, and population science will have
two years of support in an intensive research education program while they build an independent research
track on a pathway toward an academic position or related professional position. Partnership faculty will
mentor and prepare students, at all three levels, to become cancer/cancer disparities research scientists who
appreciate the translation implications of research and can work in multidisciplinary teams. The research
team science and examining the determinants of mechanisms and processes
across multiple levels and disciplines. Via scientific and professional development seminars and strong
mentoring, students will build their scientific knowledge and enhance their ability to pursue a career in research
or any area of the biomedical and bio-behavioral sciences. Briefly, the Core's specific aims are to: 1)
experiences will emphasize
Expand
and diversify the pool of individuals, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, who pursue
cancer/cancer disparities research careers, 2) Build the capacity of UMass Boston and DF/HCC investigators
to provide mentored research experiences. 3) Track participants' academic and career progress and assess
the impact of the program, 4) Contribute to the literature on research education initiatives through the
submission of manuscripts to peer-reviewed publications, and 5) Sustain and expand the Partnership's
research education initiativ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10003167
- **Project number:** 5U54CA156732-10
- **Recipient organization:** DANA-FARBER CANCER INST
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen Ann Burns White
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $68,080
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2010-09-27 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10003167

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10003167, Research Education Core (5U54CA156732-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10003167. Licensed CC0.

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