# R25 YES: Cancer Research Opportunities at Iowa

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2024 · $373,402

## Abstract

Houtman/Lubaroff
Summary/Abstract
Underrepresented (UR) populations are less likely to obtain advanced degrees in the field of
cancer research. In an attempt to address this problem, the Principal Investigators (Co-Pis) and
their colleagues at the University of Iowa (UI) have previously enrolled 123 undergraduate (UR)
students during previous 16 summer programs. In order to continue our successful summer
programs we are submitting this application for an NCI-funded summer training program in
cancer research for Underrepresented High School and Undergraduate Student Research
Experiences (R25 YES). The proposed program will include a research methods training,
emersion in an outstanding research project, courses in cancer biology, career counseling,
follow-up after the students complete the summer research training program, and community
outreach programming. Our plan is to train both undergraduate and high school students to
encourage their future participation in cancer research. We will also host faculty from these
institutions to expose them to research projects and to learn about development and
enhancement of the science curricula at their home institution. We will utilize of the Ul's
Department of Educational Policy and Leadership Studies in the College of Education in the
development of the course. The goals or objectives of the proposed program include: (a) to
recruit UR students who would not routinely have access to a program that will be designed to
provide opportunities to learn about and perform cancer research; (b) to design a training
program for these students that will expose them to a cancer research career; (c) to provide
career counseling about the variety of employment options such as academia, industry, and
government or private research centers; (d) to provide one-on-one conversations with heads of
departments, directors of interdisciplinary graduate programs, directors of PREP at Iowa, a
post-baccalaureate program, medical school admissions, and directors of the MD-PhD program;
(e) to continue training and career counseling between the two years of the training program as
well as after completion of the University of Iowa's R25 YES program; and (f) community
outreach and extended mentoring. Exposing underrepresented students and teachers to
science and research will support our goal and the goal of the NCI to support cancer research
and ultimately long-term survival for cancer patients or their cure by increasing the number and
diversity of new scientists engaged in research studies, including clinical trials. The proposed
program has a strong likelihood of success based both on our design of the program and our
past successes with previous summer research training programs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10927301
- **Project number:** 5R25CA273964-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jon C.D. Houtman
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $373,402
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-11 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10927301

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10927301, R25 YES: Cancer Research Opportunities at Iowa (5R25CA273964-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10927301. Licensed CC0.

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