The Meharry Cancer Summer Research Program (SuRP)

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Meharry Medical College seeks funding to support the continuation and expansion of the Meharry Cancer Summer Research Program (SuRP), a research experiences program that has trained several students from racial and ethnic groups that are traditionally underrepresented in health related sciences. This program will

address the issue of cancer health disparities by increasing student awareness of this issue and implementing strategies designed to increase the diversity of the oncology and cancer research workforce. Meharry Medical College is one of the largest historically black academic health science centers in the United States. It has a

proven commitment to training minority physicians, dentists and scientists, and is a leading producer of African Americans with PhDs in biomedical sciences. The proposed summer program will provide an intensive, hands-on cancer focused research experience for undergraduate and medical students through the lens of cancer health disparities. A diverse faculty of

experienced cancer investigators from Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center will serve as research mentors for the program. A nationwide search will be conducted to identify and select 10 undergraduate students and 5 rising second year medical students per year who are interested in careers in

medicine and biomedical science. Students will complete short-term 9-week (medical) or 10-week (undergraduate) research projects that focus on cancers which disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities. Projects will include multiple types of cancer research, such as basic science research, translational

research, bioinformatics, epidemiological and community based studies. Additional program enrichment activities will include a cancer biology mini-course to teach participants fundamental concepts common to all cancers. Students will gain exposure to clinical cancer research via molecular tumor boards and simulation-

based education. A weekly cancer health disparities research seminar will allow students to interact with oncologists and cancer researchers from groups traditionally underrepresented in biomedical science and learn about career opportunities within the areas of cancer research, oncology and cancer health disparities. Sessions

on the responsible conduct of research will be held on a weekly basis. Students will also participate in career and professional development workshops that will 1) allow undergraduate students to explore career options and obtain information needed to apply and successfully gain entrance into M.D. and Ph.D. training programs

and 2) allow medical students to successfully complete medical training and apply for residency programs. At the end of the summer, participants will share their research findings through oral and poster presentations. Program directors and staff will track participants through the remainder of their undergraduate/medical training

and post graduate experiences to evaluate whether program goals were met, and identify areas for improvement. Data from participant and research mentors will also be used to evaluate and enhance the program.