UF Health Cancer Center Support Grant - Training Navigator Supplement

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The University of Florida Health Cancer Center (UFHCC) recognizes that achieving health equity requires inclusive education, training, recruitment, retention, and promotion of the next generation of cancer researchers. Therefore, this Administrative Supplement application aims to recruit and develop a cadre of independent researchers prepared to address cancer disparities in our catchment area. This supplement will enhance the synergistic impact of CaRTEC, DEI, and the Florida-California Cancer Research, Education and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center by focusing on developing underrepresented minority (URM) pre-doc, post-doc, and early-stage investigators (ESIs). To expand upon the success of CaRTEC and CaRE2, and achieve their long-term goal of improving training outcomes of URM trainees and ESIs, a Training Navigator Team (TNT) will be implemented to 1) bridge activities between CaRTEC, DEI, and CaRE2 programs at the UFHCC; 2) facilitate the entry of URM into the cancer research training pipeline; and 3) prepare trainees and ESIs to pursue career development opportunities provided by the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities CURE program and beyond. This collaborative effort seeks to build upon the successes of each program through the following objectives: 1) implement a TNT to attract, recruit, and support competitive underrepresented trainees and ESIs, and facilitate their entry into NIH-supported pathway programs at the UFHCC and the attainment of NCI funding; 2) provide professional preparation and networking opportunities for scholars through grant writing and technical assistance workshops (TAWs); and 3) monitor, track, and evaluate the progress and productivity of trainees and ESIs. In particular, the TNT will help recruit URM trainees regionally, from partnering MSIs, as well as national conferences to exhibit the work of minoritized undergraduate researchers. In addition, a series of 5 training assistance workshops (TAWs) will be developed to prepare trainees and ESIs to pursue CURE funding. All TAWs will be recorded and content will be used to develop an innovative hybrid and asynchronous course that will be offered through the University's web-based learning management system. Metrics will be tracked on new cancer-relevant awards and publications, proposals and supplements submitted and the corresponding funding rate, and mentorship activities for trainees. Evaluations using the CPACHE U54 Research Education Shared Measures Toolkit will also determine the impact of proposed activities on funding and career development. This application is significant because it will increase the number of URM trainees at the UFHCC, increase the awareness around URM- and cancer disparities-relevant funding, and improve the capacity for URM UFHCC trainees to pursue external funding. This program will be impactful because it will help recruit >15 post-bacs, pre-docs, post-docs, and fellows and will engage >40 pre-docs, post-docs, fellows, and ESIs in TAWs who will submit a total of 10 CURE-supported applications in 2023-2024.