Abstract D076: Florida-California Cancer Health Disparity Research, Education & Engagement (CaRE2) Center: Research education overview and preliminary results
Authors: Mochona Bereket , Lyon Debra , Offringa Ite A. , Redda Kinfe K. , Reams Renee R. , Odedina Folakemi , Wilkie Diana J. , Carpten John D. , Stern Mariana C. 
Published: September 2020

Introduction: Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), University of Florida (UF) and University of Southern California (USC) have partnered to build a strong pathway to workforce diversity in Florida and California. Combined, the three institutions have unique expertise to support research education for Black and Latino students. FAMU (a minority serving institution) has a demonstrated track record of enrolling Under-Represented Minority (URM) students and preparing them as outstanding graduates who go on to pursue PhD degrees in biomedical and behavioral sciences. Hence, FAMU provides a unique environment for the development and testing of this triad partnership program. UF is a top world leader in interdisciplinary research and is one of only a few institutions with an academic health center having six health-related colleges. The UF’s multidisciplinary centers and institutes are designed to create synergies and collaborative research opportunities that focus on the translational nature of biomedical research, following the continuum from fundamental research to clinical research to patient care. USC, located in the multicultural city of Los Angeles, has a highly diverse student body, with 20% of the student population comprised of Black and Hispanic/Latino students. The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCC) is a major regional and national resource for cancer research, treatment, prevention, and education. Collectively, the three institutions investigate the complex origins and progression of cancer, develop prevention strategies, and search for cures. Methodology and Results: Preliminary results from the first year, which included multiple URM trainees: (thirteen undergraduate, one postbaccalaureate, eight graduate, seven postdoctoral fellows and twelve early-stage investigators), suggested that participation in CaRE2 program is a positive professional development experience, leading to acquisition of research skills in interdisciplinary cancer research, knowledge about cancer health disparities, building of personal and professional networks, and exposure to career opportunities in cancer through interaction with peers, mentors and NCI personnel. Conclusion: The CaRE2 Program appears to enhances the trainees’ motivation for a career in cancer research and may lead to the development of a more diverse workforce to address cancer health disparities. The CaRE2 program is funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the grant of NIH/NCI1U54CA233396, 1U54CA23344 and 1U54CA23346.

Citation Format: Bereket Mochona, Debra Lyon, Ite A. Offringa, Kinfe K. Redda, Renee R. Reams, Folakemi Odedina, Diana J. Wilkie, John D. Carpten, Mariana C. Stern. Florida-California Cancer Health Disparity Research, Education & Engagement (CaRE2) Center: Research education overview and preliminary results [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr D076.