Please choose your delivery country and your customer group
There is a critical need to increase the racial/ethnic diversity of prostate cancer researchers. The purpose of this 3-year project was to develop a prostate cancer research training program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) with 12 students from the following three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in South Carolina: Claflin University, South Carolina State University (SCSU), and Voorhees College. Students from the 3 HBCUs (defined as Student Fellows) participated in research internships in the laboratories/research units of senior prostate cancer research scientists at MUSC. Specific Aims: (Aim 1) To provide training in the basics of research design and methods to 12 Student Fellows each year through participation in the MUSC Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP); (Aim 2) To immerse 4 Student Fellows each year in a prostate cancer research training curriculum. Results: During the current reporting period, 12 Student Fellows were identified, recruited to participate in the program, and admitted to the DOD Collaborative Undergraduate HBCU Student Summer Prostate Cancer Training Program. The Student Fellows were matched with Research Mentors at MUSC, with whom they conducted research in the summers of 2009-2011. Each Student Fellow prepared scientific papers, presented scientific presentations at the end of the summer program, and completed a 9-week Princeton Review Graduate Record Examination Test Preparation Course. In the summer of 2012, students at SCSU participated in summer program lectures via videoconference. Conclusions: State-of-the art comprehensive prostate cancer research education and training opportunities were provided to 12 Student Fellows from HBCUs in South Carolina. Each Student Fellow prepared a scientific paper and gave at least 1 scientific presentation.