# Vanderbilt-Zambia Cancer Research Training Program (VZCARE)

> **NIH NIH D43** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · $271,999

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The cancer burden in Zambia is increasing, making it one of the leading non-communicable causes of disability
and premature death. This trend will continue and accelerate. However, cancer research in Zambia,
particularly population-based research, is limited, primarily due to a lack of well-trained investigators,
supportive research infrastructure, and adequate funding. Currently, Zambia has no cancer-specific research
training programs to address the workforce gap. Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the
University of Zambia (UNZA) are expanding their longstanding research training partnership to establish a new
cancer epidemiology training program, the Vanderbilt-Zambia Cancer Research Training Program (VZCARE).
The overall goal of VZCARE is to develop a cadre of researchers and educators equipped with modern
knowledge and expertise to lead cancer epidemiology research and training in Zambia, to encourage US-
based researchers to engage in cancer research in low- and middle-income countries, and to ensure long-term
program impacts and sustainability. Specifically, VZCARE seeks to: 1. Train a cadre of researchers and
educators (trainers) to conduct multidisciplinary cancer epidemiology research and build training
capacity in Zambia, targeting faculty members and researchers from UNZA, University Teaching Hospital,
Cancer Diseases Hospital, and the Zambia Ministry of Health. This will be accomplished via an intensive 3-
month Visiting Faculty Scholars program at Vanderbilt, Zambia-based epidemiology workshops, and
augmenting the UNZA PhD program with advanced cancer epidemiological curricula. 2. Train scientists and
future leaders in cancer epidemiology research in Zambia. This will include US- and Zambia-based
“sandwich” training and dual-mentored research for two Zambian PhD students and three Zambian
postdoctoral trainees, and field research experience in Zambia for two US postdoctoral trainees. 3. Ensure
and document VZCARE’s long-term impact. In addition to documenting the career development and
research accomplishments of our trainees, we will provide continued support for their career development and
foster collaborations beyond their supported training periods. With a very successful 23-year UNZA-Vanderbilt
Training Partnership on HIV-related research and education, and Vanderbilt’s substantial global cancer
epidemiology research and training programs, we are well positioned to launch this new training program with
a focus on building world-class cancer epidemiology research and training in Zambia and promoting US
investigators to engage in global cancer research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10435831
- **Project number:** 1D43CA270474-01
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** DOUGLAS CORBETT HEIMBURGER
- **Activity code:** D43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $271,999
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2027-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10435831

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10435831, Vanderbilt-Zambia Cancer Research Training Program (VZCARE) (1D43CA270474-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10435831. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*