# Educational Pathways for Cancer Research (EPCR)

> **NIH NIH R25** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2024 · $392,597

## Abstract

The aim of Educational Pathways for Cancer Research (EPCR) at the Indiana University Simon Comprehensive
Cancer Center (IUSCCC) and the Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) School of Education is to provide cancer
research career pathways for students from underrepresented populations in a manner that ultimately increases
the quantity of and diversity within the biomedical workforce. This aim will be achieved by focusing on three
goals: 1) Prepare middle-level teachers to provide their students with the prerequisite knowledge and
dispositions toward medical research; 2) Provide high school teachers with integrated laboratory research
experience and curriculum development opportunities to enhance their biology and cancer-related teaching skills
and to create excitement for their students for science-related careers; and 3) Provide mentored, high-quality,
cancer-focused research experiences along with didactic and professional development workshops to high
school and early undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds to prepare them for medicine-, or
cancer-related fields. To address goal 1, 45 urban and rural middle-level teachers will take part in professional
development focused on project-based research activities, specifically highlighting cancer research. To address
goal 2, using our established relationships with local high school teachers, we will provide 15 high school
teachers educating students from underrepresented backgrounds with four weeks of laboratory research
experience and participation in curriculum development activities that integrate cancer-related topics into the
state curriculum. Relationships with teachers and their schools will continue throughout the year through field
trips and school trips. To address goal 3, 30 high school/undergraduate trainees will be recruited every year to
spend three months for each of two years performing cancer research. Project trainees will gain enhanced
laboratory and research skills, including appreciation of the cancer research enterprise and patient care,
understanding of career opportunities, and a long-term academic relationship with mentors. Program evaluation
will periodically assess EPCR for meeting benchmarks and achieving milestones. Benchmarks include the
development of cancer-related curriculum at middle and high school levels, advancement in the careers of middle
and high school teachers that can be attributed to participation in EPCR, and our high school and undergraduate
trainees pursuing careers in health sciences, particularly cancer research. Approximately 60 faculty members
with research programs and mentoring training and experience will serve as mentors, and additional faculty will
be recruited as needed. EPCR continues the success of our previous CURE program and expands the scope to
fulfill the mission of the IUSCCC to educate students and teachers from diverse backgrounds underrepresented
in biomedical research who will become ambassadors for cancer resear...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10931432
- **Project number:** 5R25CA274184-02
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Gayle Buck
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $392,597
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-19 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10931432

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10931432, Educational Pathways for Cancer Research (EPCR) (5R25CA274184-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10931432. Licensed CC0.

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