# Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research (CanSUR) Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $433,027

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Cancer has been a major focus of biomedical research since the war on cancer began with the National Cancer
Act of 1971. Despite this focus, nearly 10 million people die of cancer each year, worldwide. To help ensure that
the nations’ biomedical, clinical, and behavioral cancer research workforce remains strong, we have developed
the Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research (CanSUR) Program, with the goal of recruiting highly
motivated undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to foster their passion for a future career in cancer
research and oncology. The CanSUR Program supports 32 undergraduate scholars each year, recruited from
national and regional colleges/universities for a 10-week period, to participate in a cancer research experience
with members of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC). Key objectives of the CanSUR Program
are to: (1) provide a hands-on, cancer research experience including project development, execution,
interpretation, and reporting of research results in a Case CCC member’s laboratory; (2) develop the
communication skills necessary to understand and present research in diverse settings; (3) educate participants
about cancer research career opportunities; (4) provide scientific enrichment and professional skills development
curricula to help prepare Scholars for graduate and/or medical school; (5) evaluate all aspects of the Program.
Three major components have been developed to meet these objectives. First, a Week 1 Cancer Immersion
Bootcamp has been developed that includes interactive lectures/discussions, HoloLens virtual reality education
modules, social outings to build community, discussions of cancer career paths, campus and Case CCC core
facility tours, and research ethics and lab safety training. Second, Scholars will engage in an individual mentored
research project. Finally, a Career and Scientific Enrichment Curriculum has been developed to help Scholars
learn about hot topics in cancer research, build communication skills, develop professional habits, and prepare
for the next step in their cancer-focused career path. Given the importance of our objectives, we have been
pledged substantial institutional support and have 70 Case CCC members and institutional leaders who focus
on cancer education prepared to continue recruiting and training outstanding undergraduates in this summer
program. As such, we are well-positioned to convert highly-motivated undergraduates into the nation’s next
cancer research workforce.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10847850
- **Project number:** 2R25CA225461-07
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MARK W. JACKSON
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $433,027
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10847850

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10847850, Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research (CanSUR) Program (2R25CA225461-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10847850. Licensed CC0.

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