# Cancer Prevention Education: Student Research Experiences

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2024 · $379,718

## Abstract

Since 1992, MD Anderson Cancer Prevention Education: Student Research Experiences has
provided short-term experiences in cancer prevention research and education to attract students to careers in
cancer prevention research. We recruit undergraduate, graduate, and health professional students from the
basic biomedical sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, genetics, behavioral and social sciences, nursing,
medicine, pharmacy, and related public health disciplines. Beginning with 10 positions in 1992 and increasing
over time, the Program now supports 25 positions annually. Other than pandemic shutdown-year 2020, to
date, all positions have been filled annually. The Advisory Committee reviews and selects the students based
on the merit of their academic performance, educational objectives, and research interests. The Specific Aims
are to recruit nationally and train 25 high-performing students for 10-week positions annually, using
innovative and effective strategies to attract a demographically diverse student population; to cultivate and
support our pool of mentors; to provide a superlative mentored research training experience in a variety of
cancer prevention disciplines; to provide career and professional skills development and research ethics; to
broaden participation in research careers through development of students’ identity as scientists; and to
rigorously evaluate the Program’s value and effectiveness, tracking students’ career trajectories long-term.
Around the Program’s centerpiece of mentored research in cancer prevention designed by faculty with student
learning objectives, we provide a structured curriculum covering topics in cancer prevention and control and
application of these principles in practice; exposure to many career paths into the field and methods for career
exploration and decision-making; and other professional development activities with strong emphasis on
career navigation skills development. Although this specialized curriculum has had long-term success, in part
from adding over time many innovative educational activities, in this renewal, we will refine the curriculum,
strengthening engagement with cancer prevention and control principles and research while continuing to
improve and evaluate new components that are designed to increase self-awareness and strengthen defense
strategies against negative conditions detrimental to learning, personal well-being, and achieving career goals
(e.g., impostor feelings, fixed ability mindset, perceived discrimination), helping students navigate and persist
in those career paths successfully. Linking personal values and themes in research and cancer prevention
accumulated over 10-weeks with the value of pursuing careers in the field will serve as a way to extend and
intensify interest in such careers after the end of the Program. Overall, the Program’s success takes many
forms, from recruitment of a highly diverse student population, to students’ development of research products...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10627025
- **Project number:** 2R25CA056452-31
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Shine Chang
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $379,718
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1992-07-01 → 2029-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10627025

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10627025, Cancer Prevention Education: Student Research Experiences (2R25CA056452-31). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10627025. Licensed CC0.

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