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Principal Investigator: Colin B Begg
Organization: SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH
Fiscal Year: 2024
Award: $174,571
Funding agency: National Cancer Institute
ABSTRACT: The rapid accumulation of “big data” has initiated a new model for conducting cancer research
and has resulted in a pressing need for a workforce with quantitative skills. To meet this need we used our first
NCI R25 funding period to establish the Quantitative Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (QSURE)
at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in Summer 2018. QSURE provides experiential learning
over a 10-week period for up to 10 students in quantitative fields powered by the application of real-world data,
including biostatistics, epidemiology, health outcomes, and computational oncology. In only 5 years, QSURE
has demonstrated substantial demand for quantitative training and expanded the volume of students who
successfully engage in hands-on research in our department by nearly 4-fold. We have achieved the aims of
the first funding period and reported high post-program student and mentor satisfaction as well as improved
student competencies in all years. Most QSURE alumni (71%) have gone on to pursue a PhD or Master’s in a
quantitative field. We will build on these successes and use the next funding period to continue to cultivate a
cadre of responsible, rigorous quantitative scientists through an intensive multidimensional curriculum that
reinforces successful programmatic components, including hands-on research carried out under the guidance
of a faculty mentor, discussion series in the ethical and responsible conduct of research, educational seminars
illustrating wide applications of data, training workshops in quantitative methodology, training and opportunities
for written/oral scientific communication, and career and professional development. We will integrate new
components that address contemporary viewpoints in cancer research and prompt students to consider equity,
diversity, and inclusion in their own research. These will include patient led “fireside chats” that highlight the
role of research in the patient experience, panel discussions that provide global health perspectives through
exchanges with an NCI-funded program for Nigerian trainees, and student-led discussions of works that
reinforce themes in equity, diversity, and inclusion. We will recruit diverse cohorts of motivated undergraduate
interns with a passion for applying quantitative science to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality and evaluate
short- and long-term program success and use these outcomes to inform and disseminate best practices.
Since initial funding QSURE has demonstrated success and resilience in preparing and facilitating the next
generation of research scientists for graduate studies and careers in quantitative fields. During the next funding
period, we will reinforce the successes of our first funding period by designing an enhanced curriculum to help
students contextualize and broaden their understanding of the potential of quantitative science to advance and
support the health of all communities. QSURE will continue to prepare and facilitate interns for graduate
studies and careers in quantitative fields. This is vital to fulfilling our long-term vision of training strong
quantitative scientists dedicated to advancing cancer research.
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