# Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES) program

> **NIH NIH R25** · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $353,147

## Abstract

Project Summary. In New Jersey, there are significant cancer disparities across population groups that are
also underrepresented in the cancer research and healthcare workforce. To reduce cancer inequities there is
a need to train youth from disparate population groups to pursue cancer research and healthcare careers. The
goal of this program at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (RCINJ) is to increase the diversity of the
biomedical, specifically cancer research workforce. To achieve this goal, we will: 1) provide mentored cancer
research experience and curriculum development support to high school teachers working with students from
underrepresented backgrounds; 2) engage high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented
backgrounds in mentored hands-on cancer research, co-curricular and professional career development
activities; and 3) develop innovative cancer related outreach activities that connect program participants with
schools and families in their communities. Cohorts of science teachers will engage in mentored cancer
research for eight weeks each for two consecutive summers (sixteen weeks total). Experts in curriculum
development will support teachers in developing novel instructional approaches that are related to their
research experience. Cohorts of students will have the opportunity to conduct mentored cancer research for
ten weeks each for two consecutive summers (twenty weeks total). Students will receive co-curricular and
professional development support throughout their research experience. Participants will engage in research
and program related activities for 3 months per year for two years. We will recruit program participants from all
over New Jersey with special emphasis on school districts with high percentages of students from
underrepresented backgrounds. Faculty members with active, well-funded research programs and extensive
mentoring experience will support participants. Experienced leadership team with track-record of developing,
implementing and evaluating pipeline programs for students from underrepresented backgrounds, will ensure
successful implementation of the program. Both formative and summative evaluation by an external evaluator
will be integral parts of the proposed program. We will annually track the educational and professional
activities of trainees for at least 15 years after completing research training. We will disseminate results from
the comprehensive evaluation on the program web site. Additional dissemination will occur through articles
published in peer-reviewed journals and through presentations at regional and national conferences, by
program staff as well as participants. Our program will leverage the multi-disciplinary research environment,
robust educational and outreach resources of RCINJ, the state’s only NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer
Center. Synergistic collaborations with similar initiatives across Rutgers will ensure that the program succeeds
in training th...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10694219
- **Project number:** 5R25CA247785-04
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Sunita Chaudhary
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $353,147
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10694219

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10694219, Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES) program (5R25CA247785-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10694219. Licensed CC0.

---

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