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Principal Investigator: Marian L. Fitzgibbon
Organization: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
Fiscal Year: 2024
Award: $375,332
Funding agency: National Cancer Institute
This renewal application for Years 31-35 of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Cancer Health Equity Career
Development Program (CHECDP) is designed to support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive scientific environment
to prepare the next generation of cancer researchers through health equity educational programing, mentored
research training, and career and leadership development for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees from
underrepresented backgrounds.
Despite recent declines in overall cancer mortality rates in the United States (US), racial/ethnic minorities and
historically underrepresented and disadvantaged communities continue to experience a strikingly disproportionate
burden of cancer. Over the past 30 years, the University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) Cancer Health Equity Career
Development Program (CHECDP) has prepared a diverse workforce, focusing on the array of transdisciplinary
skills needed to address cancer inequities.
This renewal application will continue to train and advance cancer health equity research by supporting pre and
postdoctoral trainees to become independent scientists. Since our initial funding under the R25T mechanism in
1992 (transitioned to T32 in 2018), the CHECDP has received continuous NCI support resulting in a significant
contribution to the cancer research workforce. Of the 18 completed predoctoral trainees, 72% went on to
postdoctoral fellowships and of the 14 completed postdoctoral trainees, 71 % accepted academic positions
following the training. Fifty-seven and 35% of our predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees, respectively, were from
underrepresented minority (URM) backgrounds. This renewal application is in response to PA-20-142.
Aim 1. To continue to recruit and train a diverse workforce of pre and postdoctoral trainees who are dedicated to
academic careers in cancer prevention and control, with a strong commitment to cancer health equity.
Aim 2. To continue to provide a rigorous skills training programwith a comprehensive curriculum; transdisciplinary
seminars; diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops; leadership certificate programs; experiential learning
with scientific writing; and experiences in basic, clinical, and community settings.
Aim 3. To prepare trainees to develop, implement, and disseminate independent research by providing strong
transdisciplinary mentorship and scientific specialization in cancer prevention and control.
Aim 4. To continue to provide plans for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research and in Methods for
Enhancing Reproducibility.
Aim 5. To continue to provide ongoing evaluation of CHECDP to determine that the program is meeting
educational, mentored research training, and career and leadership development metrics, while also
responding to CHECDP enhancement opportunities.
Terms: <Cancer health equity><Program Development><career development>