# Research Education Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF GUAM · 2024 · $139,679

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The setting of this training activity within the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE)
between the University of Guam (UOG) and the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center (UHCC) is unique in its
ethnic diversity and its distant location. Pacific Islanders are extremely underrepresented in the nation’s
biomedical workforce, which limits progress in research and prevention of cancer health disparities. PIPCHE
addresses training Pacific Islander cancer researchers in the context of the vast diversity and geography of the
region. The impact of the two previous cycles is remarkable. Without a cancer center in Guam, young
researchers and students had no opportunity to be involved in cancer research despite the high incidence of
many cancers. During the past 10 years, an infrastructure for research training in Guam and Micronesia has
been built; many UOG faculty members are collaborating in cancer research with UHCC. Since the initiation of
PIPCHE, two previous trainees moved into faculty positions at UOG, two graduates supported in cycle one are
now in faculty positions on the US mainland, and one trainee is now employed at the National Institute of
Minority Health Disparities. To date, ten trainees have entered doctoral programs in different locations. Of the
45 PIPCHE research assistants, at least nine went on graduate and professional degree programs. This
Research Education Core (REC) will continue the successful path with three specific aims: 1) Provide
guidance, support and opportunities to acquire research skills and experience to Pacific Islander students
pursuing a master’s degree with a focus on cancer-related health disparities in the Pacific Island region.
Students will be supported at UOG, or at UHCC in programs not offered at UOG, and mentored in a research
project under the supervision of one or more PIPCHE faculty. An expanded curriculum consisting of an online
course and a journal club will address critical current topics in cancer research. 2) Provide guidance, support
and opportunities to acquire research skills and experience for students interested in cancer health
disparities in the Pacific who are enrolled in a graduate degree program (master’s or doctoral). Students will
participate in biomedical, epidemiologic, psychosocial, and community-based research projects led by UHCC
faculty. 3) Support, guide and develop Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) to become independent investigators in
cancer health disparities with the help of a mentoring committee, an annual manuscript and grant writing
workshop, attendance at scientific meetings, and course releases. Important enhancements are incorporated
into the proposed program: increasing support from four to six UOG master’s students per year due to high
demand; novel online modules related to health disparities in the Pacific; extension of UHCC funding from
doctoral to master’s students; travel scholarships for trainees to attend scientific meetings; a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10908503
- **Project number:** 5U54CA143728-15
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GUAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Todd Ames
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $139,679
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2009-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10908503

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10908503, Research Education Core (5U54CA143728-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10908503. Licensed CC0.

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