# Research Education Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $171,758

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – RESEARCH EDUCATION CORE
The goal of the Cancer Research and Education to Advance HealTh Equity (CREATE) Research Education
(RE) Core is to provide critical educational and career development opportunities to current and future
underrepresented cancer scientists and professionals. The RE Core will build upon its achievements to
support students at three important inflection points in the cancer education pipeline: in Aim 1, CREATE
Undergraduate Scholars will be paired with world-class cancer disparities researchers and clinicians, and
complete a summer research and education program, coupled with follow-up research during the academic
year. Scholars will be supported and mentored in their applications to graduate and professional schools, to
further their development as cancer disparities scholars. Undergraduates will benefit from near-peer
mentoring by CREATE Medical Student Scholars, who in Aim 2 will carry out cancer disparities research
and participate during their first year of medical school in a newly-developed elective focused upon the
social determinants of cancer health. In Aim 3, CREATE Graduate Scholars, recruited as underrepresented
second-year PhD students working in cancer research laboratories, will be supported to assure their
retention and success in their PhD programs. Graduate Scholars will receive research and financial support,
will gain expertise in fellowship grant preparation and submission, and will receive education in cultural
awareness to enable successful participation in a diverse scientific workforce. These activities will directly
and positively increase the number of individuals engaged in cancer disparities research, promote retention
in their selected degree programs, and will ultimately increase the participation of underrepresented
minorities in this critical research area. The RE Core will be co-led by an established team of investigators
who have significant experience in leading NIH-supported educational programs. Co-leads Drs. Richard
Cripps (SDSU) and James Murphy (UCSD) and will work with Drs. Ricardo Zayas (SDSU) and Dennis
Trinidad (UCSD) to develop new activities and direct Core progress. The CREATE Partnership’s Internal
Advisory Committee will oversee operations, and RE Core personnel will collaborate with the Planning and
Evaluation Core to assess the effectiveness of each aim and to guide program improvement. The
opportunities offered through the RE Core will engage and support the development of students from racial
and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. The education that will be provided
in cancer-related research will guide participants towards successful careers in this area and enable them to
develop research programs focused upon cancer disparities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10762148
- **Project number:** 1U54CA285117-01
- **Recipient organization:** SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard Matthew Cripps
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $171,758
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-19 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10762148

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10762148, Research Education Core (1U54CA285117-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10762148. Licensed CC0.

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