# Cancer Research Education And Training Experience

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2024 · $182,908

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The goal of the University of Minnesota Cancer Research, Education and Training Experience (CREATE)
program is to train, motivate and prepare the next generation of cancer biology researchers in order to
accelerate the reduction of cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality. The CREATE program is an integrated
residential 10 week summer research experience that motivates and/or affirms student interest in pursuing a
research career, and provides students with foundational skills required for entry into and success in a
graduate or MD/PhD program. The foundation of our program is the completion of an independent cancer
biology research project under the mentorship of a University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center faculty
member. We enrich this research experience with regular group meetings to discuss research and develop
presentation skills, introduction to core concepts in cancer biology, emerging cancer biology research topics
and cancer research career pathways, and the development of professional skills critical for admission to and
success in a graduate program. Based on our ability to recruit a talented and diverse cohort of students, and
outstanding student outcomes in the initial funding period, we are requesting continued support for the
CREATE program. We will recruit 18 students each year, with 6 students participating in a novel “MSTP track”
where students will be mentored by a physician scientist and participate in additional MD/PhD-specific
enrichment activities. The rationale for this new track is based on success with a pilot in the previous funding
period, and the need to increase and diversify the physician scientist pipeline. For all CREATE students, we
have used our evaluation results to revise our cancer biology-specific activities, provide mentor training to all
program participants, and focus our professional development activities on supporting and enhancing
mentoring relationships, writing personal statements and interviewing. New initiatives in our diversity
recruitment plan will allow us to continue to recruit a high percentage of students from underrepresented
backgrounds. The CREATE program benefits from strong partnerships with the University of Minnesota
Masonic Cancer Center and the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD). We work extensively with the
Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Programs, a long-standing umbrella organization that
coordinates the activities of several distinct summer research programs at Minnesota. This relationship
enhances our recruitment efforts, maximizes administrative efficiencies, and provides additional enrichment
activities that complement and enhance CREATE. Continuous quality improvement driven by our evaluation
plan will allow us to continue to enhance the student experience and positively impact short-term and long-term
measures of success.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10909274
- **Project number:** 5R25CA200508-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** YOJI SHIMIZU
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $182,908
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-09-23 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10909274

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10909274, Cancer Research Education And Training Experience (5R25CA200508-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10909274. Licensed CC0.

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