# Career Enhancement Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $108,572

## Abstract

Abstract
We propose to establish a Consortium to study “Epigenomic Biomarkers of HIV-Associated Cancers in
Nigeria.” Our research focus and core services development plan has been prioritized by our Nigerian
partners at University of Jos (UniJos), Plateau State, Nigeria located in the center of the country and University
of Lagos (UniLag), Lagos State in the densely populated southwest. Our focus on the epigenetics of HIV-
associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cervical cancer is justified by our extensive collaborative
research history in viral diseases including HIV, human papilloma virus, hepatitis B and C viruses.
Northwestern University and Mayo Medical School will serve as the high-income American partner institutions
which is justified by the long history of research and research training collaboration with the Nigerian
institutions coupled with its expertise in global health and ample complementary resources. A major
component of our proposal is to enhance the careers of Nigerian scientists including junior investigators and
expand the overall scientific capacity at the Nigerian consortium institutions. The Career Enhancement Core
(CEC) will support research-related activities that will facilitate and enhance the professional development of
Nigerian investigators. The aims of the CEC are to: 1. develop mentored research activities for junior
investigators at UniJos and UniLag that will enhance their future research leadership capabilities, 2. establish a
program which will support mentored research pilot studies to be led by junior investigators at UniJos and
UniLag focused on epigenetic biomarkers of HIV-associated cancers, including by not limited to the ones being
studied in Projects 1 and 2 of this proposal, and 3. enhance research core competencies, technical skills, and
leadership and management capabilities of UniJos and UniLag investigators to assure successful independent
research funding of junior investigators to sustain future research. All mentored research activities will be
developed jointly with American and Nigerian mentors. These activities will be focused on activities
surrounding the conduct of Projects 1 (HCC) and 2 (cervical). Pilot projects supported under the CEC will be
related to the existing Projects 1 and 2 or may involve different cancers or biomarkers. Pilot projects will have
specific requirements and procedures for applicant eligibility, application process, selection of projects,
evaluation, protection of human subjects, regulatory requirements, and ethics committee approval. CEC
training activities will include both didactic and experiential training in specific scientific and technical skills not
available in the home institutions (such as DNA methylation laboratory techniques), formal didactic and
experiential training in core research competencies including biostatistics and research analytics, research
methodologies, ethics, team science, project leadership/management skills, manuscript writing...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242894
- **Project number:** 5U54CA221205-05
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT Leo MURPHY
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $108,572
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242894

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242894, Career Enhancement Core (5U54CA221205-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242894. Licensed CC0.

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