# 1/3: The Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (ChicagoCHEC)

> **NIH NIH U54** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $1,195,558

## Abstract

OVERALL – ABSTRACT
The Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (ChicagoCHEC) is a comprehensive partnership to advance
cancer health equity bringing together the synergistic strengths of two federally designated Hispanic Serving
Institutions, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), with a world
class NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center – the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of
Northwestern University (NU-LCC). ChicagoCHEC combines the attributes of these three exceptional
institutions, each with robust capacity to interact with their urban-shared setting. Launched in 2015,
ChicagoCHEC is dedicated to advancing cancer health equity through rigorous and innovative science,
education, and outreach and engagement of Chicago’s underserved communities. This is reflected in the
following goals: Aim 1. To strengthen a transformational alliance between UIC, NEIU, and the NU-LCC in pursuit
of cancer health equity in Chicago; Aim 2. To initiate, conduct, and support innovative bench, translational,
clinical, and prevention and control focused cancer research, with emphasis on cancer health disparities; Aim
3. To develop and implement cancer-related education and outreach activities generated with the engagement
of underserved communities across Chicago; Aim 4. To coordinate research education and mentoring
opportunities to recruit, retain, and advance a pipeline of underrepresented students in cancer research careers
and to develop early career faculty who will forge independent cancer research careers; and Aim 5. To conduct
ongoing rigorous evaluation of ChicagoCHEC activities. These goals are accomplished by a nurturing hub of
four Cores (Administrative, Planning and Evaluation, Research Education, and Outreach) and a research project
funding program. Since the launch of ChicagoCHEC in 2015, there has been rapid growth in collaborative
infrastructure built across the three partnering institutions; enhanced cancer research engagement, capacity,
and education; extensive community outreach and engagement; and encouraging advancement of
ChicagoCHEC faculty and students. ChicagoCHEC projects and programs provided research experiences to
155 students, provided cancer research and leadership opportunities for 57 faculty (21 have been
promoted/received tenure), and directly resulted in 94 peer-reviewed publications, 47 extramural grants
submitted, and 24 grants awarded. ChicagoCHEC will leverage the momentum forged by the initial U54 award
to drive innovative cancer research, research education, and community outreach and engagement that cuts
across disciplinary and institutional boundaries. ChicagoCHEC will leverage its diverse team of faculty, students,
and partners, connectivity to Chicago’s underserved communities, and guidance of internal and external advisory
bodies. The next chapter will include two initial full cancer research projects and two initial pilot projects,
continued support f...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10692816
- **Project number:** 5U54CA203000-09
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Christina Ciecierski
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $1,195,558
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-09-24 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10692816

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10692816, 1/3: The Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (ChicagoCHEC) (5U54CA203000-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10692816. Licensed CC0.

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