title: Mentoring Strategies and Outcomes of Two Federally Funded Cancer Research Training Programs for Underrepresented Students in the Biomedical Sciences.
abstract: The US is experiencing a severe shortage of underrepresented biomedical researchers. The purpose of this paper is to present two case examples of cancer research mentoring programs for underrepresented biomedical sciences students. The first case example is a National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI) P20 grant titled "South Carolina Cancer Disparities Research Center (SC CaDRe)" Training Program, contributing to an increase in the number of underrepresented students applying to graduate school by employing a triple-level mentoring strategy. Since 2011, three undergraduate and four graduate students have participated in the P20 SC CaDRe program. One graduate student published a peer-reviewed scientific paper. Two graduate students (50 %) have completed their master's degrees, and the other two graduate students will receive their degrees in spring 2015. Two undergraduate students (67 %) are enrolled in graduate or professional school (grad./prof. school), and the other graduate student is completing her final year of college. The second case example is a prostate cancer-focused Department of Defense grant titled "The SC Collaborative Undergraduate HBCU Student Summer Training Program," providing 24 students training since 2009. Additionally, 47 students made scientific presentations, and two students have published peer-reviewed scientific papers. All 24 students took a GRE test preparation course; 15 (63 %) have applied to graduate school, and 11 of them (73 %) are enrolled in grad./prof. school. Thirteen remaining students (54 %) are applying to grad./prof. school. Leveraged funding provided research-training opportunities to an additional 201 National Conference on Health Disparities Student Forum participants and to 937 Ernest E. Just Research Symposium participants at the Medical University of South Carolina.
authors: Cancer Disparities, Hollings Cancer Center, Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA. fordmar@musc.edu.
authors: Marvella E
authors: ME
authors: Ford
authors: Public Information and Community Outreach, Department of Library Science and Informatics, MUSC, 171 Ashley Avenue, Suite 305, MSC 403, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: Latecia M
authors: LM
authors: Abraham
authors: Hollings Cancer Center, MUSC, 86 Jonathan Lucas St., Room HO124G, MSC 955, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: Anita L
authors: AL
authors: Harrison
authors: Cancer Control, Hollings Cancer Center, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Hollings Cancer Center, MSC 955, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: Melanie S
authors: MS
authors: Jefferson
authors: Heart & Vascular Center, MUSC, Ashley River Tower, 25 Courtenay Drive, Room # 3301, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: Tonya R
authors: TR
authors: Hazelton
authors: Cancer Disparities, Hollings Cancer Center, Department of Public Health Sciences, MUSC, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, MSC 955, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: Heidi
authors: H
authors: Varner
authors: Cancer Disparities, Hollings Cancer Center, Department of Public Health Sciences, MUSC, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, MSC 955, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: Kimberly
authors: K
authors: Cannady
authors: Research Development, Hollings Cancer Center, MUSC, 86 Jonathan Lucas St., Room HO124, MSC 955, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: Carla S
authors: CS
authors: Frichtel
authors: Department of Biology, SC Center for Biotechnology, Claflin University, 400 Magnolia Street, Orangeburg, SC, 29115, USA.
authors: Omar
authors: O
authors: Bagasra
authors: Department of Biology, Voorhees College, P.O. Box 678, Denmark, SC, 29042, USA.
authors: Leroy
authors: L
authors: Davis
authors: Department of Library Science and Informatics, Public Information and Community Outreach, MUSC, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Rivers
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Southeastern Virtual Institute for Health Equity and Wellness (SE VIEW), MUSC, 179 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: Sabra C
authors: SC
authors: Slaughter
authors: Department of Biological & Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, 300 College Street, Orangeburg, SC, 29117, USA.
authors: Judith D
authors: JD
authors: Salley
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000193:education*; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D000071252:Mentoring / Q000379:methods*; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D016730:Program Development; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D013022:South Carolina
keywords: Biomedical sciences; Cancer research training programs; Diversity; Education; Mentoring programs; Outcomes; Triple-level mentoring strategy; Underrepresented minority students