Training Program in Cancer Prevention and Control and Cancer Health Equity (CPC-CHE)

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PROJECT SUMMARY This is a competitive renewal of the NCI T32 Cancer Prevention and Control and Cancer Health Equity (CPC- CE) Training Program at the Massey Cancer Center (MCC) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). The training program has been active for three 5-year cycles – first as an R25 and, in 2018, successfully transitioned to a T32. The present training application has a renewed focus on cancer health equity and reducing cancer disparities to meet the needs of MCC's catchment area and align with MCC's center-wide theme. MCC's catchment area is diverse and includes “hot spots” of elevated cancer risk in rural and minority communities, with several counties having elevated age-adjusted cancer rates. This unique catchment area serves as a backdrop for research and training being conducted within rural and urban communities and among a diverse residential population. As the longest-standing NCI-funded T32 training program at MCC, the CPC-CHE program is highly valued by the institution and supported in matching funds by VCU, MCC and the School of Medicine. The program brings together 25 primary and 6 secondary mentors from 12 departments across three schools/colleges. During the current funding period, 33% of the trainees were from racial/ethnic groups underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral science and 90% were female. One-hundred percent of the predoctoral trainees secured postdoctoral training positions and four out of five postdoctoral trainees who have completed the program are in academic/research faculty positions and the other is working in a non-profit research-related career. The proposed T32 has four objectives: 1) offer an integrated training program with a broad range of research opportunities in cancer prevention and control and/or cancer health equity, including an option to complete a concentrated Master of Science or public health degree; 2) provide structured didactic training in cutting-edge research methods to support career advancements in cancer prevention and control and cancer health equity science; 3) cultivate a collaborative community that will form the foundation for effective professional development and career readiness; and 4) provide training to emerging scholars from diverse socio- economic and racial/ethnic backgrounds through intensive mentoring. The program requests support for two predoctoral and five postdoctoral trainee slots. The selection of seven scholars will allow for an approximate 4:1 mentor/trainee ratio.