Research Education Core

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PROJECT SUMMARY The setting of this training activity within the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE) between the University of Guam (UOG) and the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center (UHCC) is unique in its ethnic diversity and its distant location. Pacific Islanders are extremely underrepresented in the nation’s biomedical workforce, which limits progress in research and prevention of cancer health disparities. PIPCHE addresses training Pacific Islander cancer researchers in the context of the vast diversity and geography of the region. The impact of the two previous cycles is remarkable. Without a cancer center in Guam, young researchers and students had no opportunity to be involved in cancer research despite the high incidence of many cancers. During the past 10 years, an infrastructure for research training in Guam and Micronesia has been built; many UOG faculty members are collaborating in cancer research with UHCC. Since the initiation of PIPCHE, two previous trainees moved into faculty positions at UOG, two graduates supported in cycle one are now in faculty positions on the US mainland, and one trainee is now employed at the National Institute of Minority Health Disparities. To date, ten trainees have entered doctoral programs in different locations. Of the 45 PIPCHE research assistants, at least nine went on graduate and professional degree programs. This Research Education Core (REC) will continue the successful path with three specific aims: 1) Provide guidance, support and opportunities to acquire research skills and experience to Pacific Islander students pursuing a master’s degree with a focus on cancer-related health disparities in the Pacific Island region. Students will be supported at UOG, or at UHCC in programs not offered at UOG, and mentored in a research project under the supervision of one or more PIPCHE faculty. An expanded curriculum consisting of an online course and a journal club will address critical current topics in cancer research. 2) Provide guidance, support and opportunities to acquire research skills and experience for students interested in cancer health disparities in the Pacific who are enrolled in a graduate degree program (master’s or doctoral). Students will participate in biomedical, epidemiologic, psychosocial, and community-based research projects led by UHCC faculty. 3) Support, guide and develop Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) to become independent investigators in cancer health disparities with the help of a mentoring committee, an annual manuscript and grant writing workshop, attendance at scientific meetings, and course releases. Important enhancements are incorporated into the proposed program: increasing support from four to six UOG master’s students per year due to high demand; novel online modules related to health disparities in the Pacific; extension of UHCC funding from doctoral to master’s students; travel scholarships for trainees to attend scientific meetings; an annual intensive writing workshop at UOG to improve output in published manuscripts and grant applications; implementation of mentoring committees and funds to provide ESIs with protected time for grant and manuscript writing.