# Duke PRIME Cancer Research Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $217,729

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The U.S. is facing a biomedical workforce crisis, starting with attrition from STEM majors in
undergraduate training. The result is a lack of innovative solutions to advance health outcomes. Cancer
remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of cancer diagnoses and survivors in
the U.S. was more than 19 million in 2020, with 9.9 million cancer-related deaths worldwide. Duke University
is uniquely positioned to address this critical problem by building a robust pipeline of future academic
cancer researchers. The Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) is nationally recognized for its research programs in the
areas of cancer biology; cancer prevention and control; cancer risk detection and interception; immune-
oncology; neuro-oncology; precision cancer medicine and investigational therapeutics; and radiation oncology
and imaging. Our recently established Office of Physician Scientist Development (OPSD) offers a sustainable
structure for mentorship, professional development, and research funding. By leveraging these institutional
structures, we are well positioned to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of a program
that links resources across the training spectrum to introduce undergraduate students to varied cancer
research career opportunities. To address the cancer research workforce gap, we propose the Duke
Preparing Research scholars In bioMEdical sciences (PRIME): Cancer Research Program, which
will recruit cohorts of undergraduate students and provide them with research skills-building and
mentored research experiences in cancer research. We will provide evidence-based professional
development activities and sustained engagement through virtual platforms and the opportunity for program
alumni to return in peer-to-peer mentor roles. The Duke PRIME: Cancer Research Program will achieve
our long-term goal, addressing barriers that limit the recruitment and retention of a cancer research workforce
through early exposure to intensive research experiences, an innovative didactics curriculum, and peer
networking. The program focuses on 1) providing a mentored summer research intensive experience for
undergraduates; 2) providing a parallel OPSD PRIME Academy enrichment curriculum to enhance
understanding of FDQFHU research concepts and career paths in research; and 3) developing a peer networking
model with sustained engagement throughout the academic year. Successful implementation of the
proposed program will lead to a scalable model for development of a robust pipeline for a diverse
biomedical research workforce across disciplines.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10931392
- **Project number:** 5R25CA275731-02
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** GERARD C BLOBE
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $217,729
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-19 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10931392

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10931392, Duke PRIME Cancer Research Program (5R25CA275731-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10931392. Licensed CC0.

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