# Cancer Prevention Education: Student Research Experiences

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2021 · $86,626

## Abstract

Since 1992, MD Anderson Cancer Prevention Education: Student Research Experiences has
provided short-term research experiences in cancer prevention research and education to students as a means
to attract them to careers in cancer prevention research. We recruit undergraduate, graduate, and health
professional students from the basic biomedical sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, genetics, behavioral and
social sciences, nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and related public health disciplines for mentored research in
cancer prevention and control. Beginning with 10 positions in 1992 and increasing over time, the Program now
supports 25 positions annually. To date, all positions have been filled annually. The Advisory Committee
reviews and selects the students based on the merit of their academic performance, educational objectives, and
research interests. The Specific Aims are to recruit nationally and train 25 high-performing students for 10-
week positions annually, using innovative and effective strategies to attract a demographically diverse student
population; to cultivate and support the pool of mentors; to provide a superlative mentored research training
experience in a variety of cancer prevention disciplines; to provide career and professional skills development
and research ethics; to broaden participation in research careers through development of students' identity as
scientists; and to rigorously evaluate the Program's value and effectiveness, tracking long-term career
development of students. Around the Program's centerpiece of mentored research in cancer prevention
designed by faculty with student learning objectives, we currently provide a structured curriculum covering
topics in cancer prevention and control, and application of these principles in practice; procedures for
conducting research; exposure to multiple career paths into the field, training in methods for career
exploration and decision-making; and other professional development activities with strong emphasis on
scientific communication skills development. Building upon this long-term success and other innovative
educational activities already implemented by the Program over time, we propose to integrate several new
activities to help students increase self-awareness and strengthen defense strategies against negative
conditions detrimental to learning, personal well-being, and achieving career goals (e.g., imposter
phenomenon). Other new activities will help students link personal values and themes in research and cancer
prevention accumulated over the 10-week experience with the value of pursuing careers in research and
cancer/cancer prevention as a strategy to extend and intensify their interests in such careers after the end of
the Program. All components of the Program will be evaluated according to a specified plan. Overall, the
Program's success takes many forms, from recruitment of a highly diverse student population, to students'
development of research products s...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9977927
- **Project number:** 5R25CA056452-28
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Shine Chang
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $86,626
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1992-07-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9977927

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9977927, Cancer Prevention Education: Student Research Experiences (5R25CA056452-28). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9977927. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*