# The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Academy

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $484,993

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Over the past nine years, the Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
(UPMC) has trained and mentored 134 high school students from underrepresented minority (URM) groups
and economically disadvantaged (DA) backgrounds hailing from over 60 high schools. Our newly proposed
Hillman Academy will expand the successes of our current program, which is funded under the expiring
Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences to the HCC and was recognized in 2014 with the Carnegie
Science Center Leadership in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education Award.
Our past participants performed research over a wide range of cancer topics at six research sites across the
campus under the tutelage of 106 faculty members who supported our students as hosts and mentors. Our
alumni have won numerous scholarships and awards, coauthored manuscripts, presented at national scientific
conferences, and continued research both with us and at the top institutions that they now attend. Ninety-three
percent of our alumni with known and declared undergraduate majors matriculated into science- and
healthcare-related areas of study. We aim to continue these successes with an expanded program to reach
even more URM/DA students—24 per year—to increase the diversity and preparedness of the cancer
workforce through a multi-modal approach that includes immersive research experiences, didactic training with
tailored curricula, and professional and academic development. We will also lead a number of outreach
activities in our region to raise awareness of cancer, cancer disparities, and cancer research through our
collaborations with long-standing community partners, such as the Fund for the Advancement of Minorities
through Education, MPowerhouse, Inc., and the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. These efforts will grow
out of the Hillman Academy to engage URM/DA students at earlier stages, as well as, their schools and other
community members. Together, the Hillman Academy will engage, train, and provide paths for URM/DA youth
to advance cancer research and care. Our leadership, infrastructure, mentors, and experience of running a
holistic research training program position us for lasting success in this endeavor. We will build on our previous
accomplishments of promoting the pursuit of STEM education and careers for our students and continue to
address cancer disparities by equipping URM/DA youth to be agents of change that impact their communities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10248437
- **Project number:** 5R25CA236620-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTOPHER J. BAKKENIST
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $484,993
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-13 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10248437

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10248437, The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Academy (5R25CA236620-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10248437. Licensed CC0.

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