# Research and Capacity Building Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $286,685

## Abstract

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, bears the second highest burden of cancer cases (11%) and deaths
(12%) in Africa.1 Evidence-based cancer control interventions such as vaccines for cancer control exist, but are
underutilized in Nigeria.2,3 To close this research-to-practice gap, we propose a US-Nigerian Cancer Control
Center for Research on Implementation Science and Equity (C3-RISE) capacity building core. The overall
goals are to increase the pipeline of early-career Nigerian-based investigators and practitioners who can lead
IS research for equitable cancer control in Nigeria. We will use participatory implementation science
approaches10 (such as crowdsourcing11 and apprenticeships) to develop sustained capacity for implementation
research at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. Crowdsourcing asks a group to solve a problem
(through participatory activities such as open calls,12 designathons,13 or other activities) and then shares the
solutions with the public.14 Apprenticeships provide the practical skills, direct mentorship, and supportive
environment to increase the likelihood of launching successful IS interventions. In this capacity building core,
we propose a series of in-person and online training opportunities in IS methods to spur innovative, equitable
cancer control research pilot studies. Each year, open calls will be used to identify eight exceptional trainees
(as part of two-person teams) from participating Nigerian-based institutions (including academic, clinical, and
community-based organizations). Each cohort will join a two-week residential training experience focused on
IS for equitable cancer control. Trainees will also become part of a year-long virtual learning community and
mentoring program designed to facilitate and sustain careers in the IS and cancer workforces. Trainee teams
will compete for small seed Pilot Partner grants to launch pilot plans of their final IS cancer pilots at community
sites. They will receive mentorship from established faculty mentors to carry out pilots focused on enhancing
vaccines to prevent cancer (i.e., HPV and HBV vaccines). Our specific aims are: To identify and recruit
Nigerian trainees for the C3-RISE capacity building core ; 2) To develop IS research capacity building for equity
in cancer control among trainees; and 3) To initiate, sustain, and evaluate a virtual participatory learning
community to facilitate access to curated resources and collaboration between geographically dispersed
trainees. Our strong focus on cultivating local Nigerian mentors and trainees will have an enduring impact on
institutionalizing research mentorship and enhancing capacity for training at the organizational level. Our plan
aligns with Nigerian national, NIH, and strategic priorities related to building capacity for cancer research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10931743
- **Project number:** 5U54CA284110-02
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Juliet Iwelunmor
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $286,685
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-19 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10931743

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10931743, Research and Capacity Building Core (5U54CA284110-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10931743. Licensed CC0.

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