Clark Atlanta University is a premier minority serving educational institution that imparts both undergraduateand graduate programs in various disciplines including biology. Given social, educational and healthdisparities in the US, graduating students from CAU are in a better position to address these challenges.African Americans are also significantly under-represented in biological research. This is partly due to lackof institutional commitment, educational facilities, early intervention programs at the undergraduate level andlack of strong graduate programs in predominantly minority regions. This proposal in association with schoolof social work at CAU is a step forward in preparing deserving undergraduate and graduate students for astrong and committed career in prostate cancer research. Such a disease specific program designedspecifically for a minority population that is more susceptible to prostate cancer is lacking any where in theUS. The primary objective of the proposed training core is therefore 'To identify and recruit, impart qualityresearch and training to minority students for a career in cancer research at the undergraduate and graduatelevel'. The objectives will be accomplished by the following specific aims:1. Effective recruitment strategy at the graduate and undergraduate level.2. Development of focused prostate cancer research programs.3. Development of activities that will allow students to gain competitive advantage in cancer research.4. Train students for an independent career in prostate cancer research.Early intervention and support programs that identify deserving students need to be in place before thesestudents drift into other careers or options for the lack of support or commitment from their educationalinstitutions. The overall aim of this proposal is to provide strong support that will help students achieve theircareer research goals. In order to achieve these goals, it is imperative that we reach out to the minoritycommunity that is served by CAU, develop faculty mentors with demonstrated research in prostate cancerand institutional commitment. Incidentally, the School of Social Work department has a strong outreachprogram in local community, the biological sciences have a strong faculty that is committed to prostatecancer research and CAU has identified CCRTD as the center for excellence. Therefore, basicinfrastructure at the departmental and institutional level exists to administer the proposed training program.
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