PLAN TO ENHANCE DIVERSITY - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are core values that are essential to promoting innovative research to reduce cancer risk and improve cancer outcomes. The Yale Cancer Center (YCC) is fully committed to increasing the diversity of its clinical and biomedical research faculty and creating an environment that prioritizes DEIB as key principles which informs policies, patient care, and daily operations. As such, the YCC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Office was established in 2021 to cultivate a culture of inclusive excellence. YCC DEI collaborates closely with the Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) and Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) leadership to enhance the diversity of our trainees, faculty, and leadership and to implement initiatives to create an equitable environment. The YCC DEI Office is led by Dr. Faye Rogers, Associate Director for DEI and operates with an annual budget of $500K to support DEI initiatives and activities. The Office is also able to leverage institutional infrastructure investments at Yale School of Medicine and Yale University geared towards enhancing opportunities for women and underrepresented faculty and trainees. The YCC Plan to Enhance Diversity (PED) stems from institutional recognition that a diverse workforce will be imperative to eradicate cancer disparities and fully serve the entire breadth of its community. In Aim 1, YCC DEI will implement strategies to enhance the faculty and trainee diversity in our workforce, including use of a cluster hiring model, mentorship, and increased exposure to cancer research to trainees from underrepresented backgrounds at different stages of their academic careers. In addition, YCC acknowledges the importance of a more diverse leadership group in attracting, fostering, and retaining a diverse workforce. The PED proposes approaches to develop a diverse next generation of YCC leadership in Aim 2 through access to research funding and career development opportunities. The diversity of YCC’s senior leadership has been enhanced and we plan DEI training from the Racial Equity Institute for current leaders. Aim 3 of the plan aims to cultivate a culture of inclusive excellence through communication, inclusive artwork, education, and continued evaluation. The Plan to Enhance Diversity is designed to foster a YCC membership that accurately reflects the nation and the population that it serves. YCC strives to inspire a new diverse generation of cancer researchers and practitioners, who will emerge as leaders to ensure that new discoveries in cancer therapeutics and care is extended to all.