North Carolina Summer Undergraduate Prostate Cancer Research Program
Abstract
African-American men are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men. North Carolina is among the most diverse states in the nation, and ranks seventh with respect to percent African Americans. Incidentally, the state is also ranked number seven for the incidence rate of prostate cancer in the United States. However, only one out of six healthcare professionals is an underrepresented minority. Thus, there is an urgent need for more opportunities for underrepresented students who wish to pursue a career in health professions, particularly in prostate cancer research. The goal of the current training proposal is to promote interest in careers in prostate cancer research and care among underrepresented undergraduate students from North Carolina A&T State University (NC-AT) and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) through a comprehensive training program at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University (CCCWFU), the number 1 cancer hospital in North Carolina and the number 17 cancer hospital in the United States. The training program will be administered by two well-qualified Co-Directors, two Faculty Advisors from NC-AT and WSSU, and 15 experienced mentors. The program consists of six critical parts. The first part is hands-on experiences in laboratory research related to prostate cancer under selected mentors. Students can choose their research topics from these areas: basic biology of prostate cancer cells, biomarker discovery for early detection, identification of therapeutic targets, treatment resistance, and population science of prostate cancer. The second part is didactic lectures on basic and clinical aspects of prostate cancer. The third part is attendance at seminars and a journal club with graduate students. The fourth part is clinical shadowing at urology clinics. The fifth is presentation of research at a prostate cancer symposium at the end of the training period. The last part is subsequent guidance on selecting and applying for graduate school. Exposure to bench work, conducting research in a team, having mentors as role models, and other experiences emerging from their day-to-day work in the lab will give students a broad appreciation for a scientific career, especially in prostate cancer research. At the end of this training, students will present their findings at a prostate cancer symposium held in CCCWFU and at regional and national scientific meetings. After completion of the formal training, the Program Directors, Faculty Advisors, and mentors will work closely with the trainees to prepare them for graduate school and will track their career achievements through various mechanisms. The ultimate objective is to create a long-term partnership between NC-AT, WSSU, and CCCWFU that will produce a cadre of top-caliber minority scientists and physicians with a specific interest in prostate cancer research, prevention, diagnosis, and care.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 2017
- Source ID
- W81XWH1610359
Entities
People
- Kounosuke Watabe
Organizations
- United States Army
- Wake Forest University