# Young Empowered Scientists for ContinUed Research Engagement (YES for CURE)

> **NIH NIH R25** · DANA-FARBER CANCER INST · 2020 · $409,851

## Abstract

Young Empowered Scientists for ContinUed Research Engagement (YES for CURE) Project Summary
 Increasing the participation and retention of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in cancer-related
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields is critical for eliminating cancer disparities
and improving cancer outcomes in the United States. The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC)
requests funding to address the shortfall of URMs and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals engaged
in cancer research related careers. Our specific goal is to engage the scientific curiosity and promote the
academic success and future research careers of promising young scientists from underrepresented
communities. For over 15 years, DF/HCC has connected high school and college students from
underrepresented populations to the world of cancer research by placing them in real research settings at
Harvard University-affiliated cancer research institutions through a continuously funded P30 CURE
Supplement ending this year. More than two thirds of our alumni have gone on to complete STEM degrees and
to successfully pursue science and health-related careers. We propose to continue and expand this work
through the YES for CURE Program, which will provide multi-year cancer and cancer disparities research
experiences and educational programming for high school students and undergraduates in the Boston area.
Each year, 40 talented high school and college students from the Boston area, selected through a competitive
application process, will engage in a program comprised of three interrelated components: (1) mentored, full-
time summer research experiences in DF/HCC cancer research labs; (2) a year-round innovative Strategies for
Science Success curriculum focused on building scientific and professional competency; and (3) community
and family engagement and outreach geared towards developing a supportive, informed, and engaged
network who will nurture and empower program participants to achieve academic success and pursue careers
in scientific research. These three components will be woven together into a comprehensive, multi-year
experience that will prime participants for further academic training and careers in scientific research and the
pursuit of further, program-independent research experiences. Further, we will leverage our extensive student
tracking expertise to assess the impact of the YES for CURE Program on student interest in and preparation
for cancer and cancer disparities research careers and their scientific skills and concepts acquisition.
By focusing on students at the beginning of their academic career, we anticipate that the YES for CURE
Program will spark and nurture participant interest in pursuing science degrees and cancer research careers
and increase the retention of underrepresented participants in cancer-related fields.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999476
- **Project number:** 5R25CA221738-04
- **Recipient organization:** DANA-FARBER CANCER INST
- **Principal Investigator:** James A. DeCaprio
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $409,851
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-19 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999476

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999476, Young Empowered Scientists for ContinUed Research Engagement (YES for CURE) (5R25CA221738-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999476. Licensed CC0.

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