# Research Education Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CTR & RES INST · 2023 · $197,231

## Abstract

ABSTRACT | RESEARCH EDUCATION CORE
The Research Education Core (REC) of the Ponce Health Sciences University and Moffitt Cancer Center
Partnership has built an educational program that supports participants across the career continuum preparing
them for basic or clinical oncology-related careers. The long-term goal of the REC is to increase the recruitment,
advancement, and quality of cancer research scientists and oncologists from the Puerto Rican and
Hispanic/Latino (H/L) population while advancing health disparities research focused on this population. Through
ongoing interactions with all components of the Partnership, the REC’s educational framework (2007-2022) has
resulted in: 125 participants obtaining faculty, medical, or industry/federal/academic positions with 30 in
hematology-oncology clinical practice; completion of 137 research rotations by PhD, MD or PsyD students;
guidance of 22 Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs); and the creation of new courses, clerkships, and robust cancer
and health disparities seminar series. Leveraging our prior successes the REC strategy is designed to jointly
engage participants across career levels and institutes to create a lasting peer mentoring network which will be
accomplished under the following aims: Aim 1 engages H/L undergraduate students at both PHSU and MCC,
eight total per year, in a new two-year-plus program with year-round mentoring and research experiences
combined with intensive summer research immersion to promote conceptual change in preconceived ideas of
limited opportunities and ‘fit’ for STEM and cancer research. Aim 2 establishes two-year diversity post-doctoral
scholarships at MCC for H/L fellows to support career success with a focus on cancer health disparities and
minority health; and also establishes career development scholarships for late-stage PHSU PhD students to
support career enhancement activities and successful transition to post-doctoral training. Two rolling scholarship
slots are available at each site. The scholarships are interwoven with training in cultural competency,
professionalism, scientific writing, and health disparities to successfully promote a path toward independence.
Aim 3 addresses the need to increase the number of H/L medical residents and medical students entering an
oncology career track. REC will facilitate the creation of the first urology residency program in PR, enable surgical
oncology training at MCC for two PR surgical residents per year, and immerse eight medical students per year
in a summer cancer research experience alongside PhD students. Aim 4 enhances the career development of
ESIs by providing individualized support for each ESI through collaborative interactions, health disparities
training, grant/scientific writing workshops, career development activities, identifying networking opportunities,
and tracking, and evaluating ongoing mentorship and sponsorship. In sum, REC trainees will gain cancer
research and health disparities experienc...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10762085
- **Project number:** 2U54CA163068-11
- **Recipient organization:** H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CTR & RES INST
- **Principal Investigator:** KENNETH Lynn WRIGHT
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $197,231
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2012-09-24 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10762085

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10762085, Research Education Core (2U54CA163068-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10762085. Licensed CC0.

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