The Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE)
The Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) CURE program offers unique training and career development opportunities to enhance and increase diversity in the cancer and cancer health disparities research workforce. The CURE program supports promising candidates from middle school through junior investigator levels, and provides them with a continuum of competitive funding opportunities.
What CURE Does
The CURE-funded training opportunities are designed to:
- Support middle school, high school, and undergraduate students interested in cancer and cancer health disparities research to enter the research field, work directly with scientists and community leaders, gain laboratory experience, and develop research skills.
- Assist graduate students pursuing a Ph.D. degree, combined M.D./Ph.D. degree, or other formally combined health professional degree and research doctoral degree to obtain funding for cancer or cancer health disparities research.
- Facilitate the transition of postdoctoral scholars pursuing a career in cancer and cancer health disparities research into becoming funded investigators.
- Support junior investigators working in cancer and cancer health disparities research who are seeking research opportunities in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences that lead to research independence.
What CURE Offers
CRCHD provides extensive funding opportunities for training and career development in cancer research, training, education, and outreach. CRCHD offers funding for the training of middle school, high school, undergraduate, graduate, post-baccalaureate, post-master, postdoctoral, and junior investigators across the country. Students and researchers are supported at all stages of their education and career to ensure a full continuum of training and career development opportunities. Learn about cancer training at NCI.
CURE Opportunities for Individuals
| Title & CRCHD Contact | Application Due Date, Eligibility & Purpose |
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Diversity Research Supplements Dr. Belem López JoBeth McCarthy (C) Dr. Jason Liu Fulera Salami |
Accepted: October 1 - December 1, February 1 - March 31 Eligibility: High School, Undergraduates, Post-Baccalaureates, Post-Masters, Graduates, Postdoctorals, Junior Investigators Recruit and provide support to students, post-doctorates, and eligible investigators from diverse backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in cancer and cancer health disparities research. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for applicants proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial. Applicants to this FOA are permitted to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor.
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Dr. Anthony DiBello |
Due Dates: April 8, August 8, December 8 Eligibility: Graduate students pursuing a doctoral degree Provides up to five years of support for research training leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent research degree, or up to six years of support for a combined M.D./Ph.D. degree or another formally combined professional degree and research doctoral degree in biomedical, behavioral, health services, or clinical sciences. This fellowship enhances the diversity of the health-related workforce by supporting the research training of predoctoral students from underrepresented population groups in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research workforce.
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Dr. Belem López JoBeth McCarthy (C) Dr. Jason Liu Fulera Salami |
Accepted: October 1 - December 1, February 1 - March 31 Re-entry Supplements Eligibility: Individuals who were in a postdoctoral or faculty position at the time they left active research and/or have doctoral degrees, such as M.D., D.D.S., Ph.D., O.D., D.V.M., or the equivalent. Supports individuals to reenter an active biomedical and behavioral research career after taking time off to care for children or parents, or to attend to other family responsibilities. While eligible candidates will not be permitted to lead an independent clinical trial, they may propose to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor. Re-Integration Supplements Eligibility: Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Supports individuals who are adversely affected by unsafe or discriminatory environments resulting from unlawful harassment, to rapidly transition into new safer, and more supportive research environments. |
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NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity Dr. Shahrooz Vahedi |
Due Dates: February 12, June 12, October 12 Eligibility: Postdoctorals, Investigators Provides support for intensive research career development over a duration of 3, 4, or 5 years under the guidance of an experienced mentor in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences leading to research independence. Available for individuals that have a research or health professional doctoral degree and are from underrepresented groups in health-related research. This unique award provides the opportunity for recipients to participate in peer-review workshops at the NCI throughout the duration of the award. |
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NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity Dr. Laritza Rodriguez |
Due Dates: February 12, June 12, October 12 Eligibility: Postdoctoral, Investigators Provides support and protected time for intensive, supervised research career development experience in the fields of basic, clinical, behavioral, translational, or patient-oriented cancer research, including research on cancer health disparities. This award is specifically designed for individuals with a clinical doctoral degree or a health professional doctoral degree who are from populations underrepresented in health-related science.
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NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity Dr. Shahrooz Vahedi |
Due Dates: February 12, June 12, October 12 Eligibility: Postdoctoral, Investigators Assists postdoctoral fellows or individuals in equivalent positions who are from backgrounds nationally underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and/or social sciences to transition to positions of assistant professor or equivalent and initiate a successful biomedical career as an independent research scientist. |
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Exploratory Grant Award to Promote Workforce Diversity in Basic Cancer Research (R21) Dr. Laritza Rodriguez Dr. Sangeeta Ghosh |
Due Dates: June 18, 2024, November 19, 2024, June 17, 2025, November 18, 2025, June 15, 2026, November 17, 2026 Eligibility: Investigators Supports eligible investigators from underrepresented groups to conduct research projects focused on the basic biology of cancer. |
CURE Opportunities for Institutions
| Title & CRCHD Contact | Application Due Date, Eligibility & Purpose |
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Youth Enjoy Science (YES) Research Education Program (R25) Dr. Belem López Dr. Sangeeta Ghosh |
Due Dates: September 28, 2023 Eligibility: Grades 6-12 students, Undergraduate students, Grades 6-12 teachers, Undergraduate faculty. Supports efforts to create and maintain an institutional program to engage underrepresented grades 6–12 and/or undergraduate students, teachers, and faculty in cutting edge cancer research experiences. |
Additional Funding Opportunities
| Title & CRCHD Contact | Application Due Date, Eligibility & Purpose |
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American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) - HBCU Faculty in the Field of Cancer ncicrchd@mail.nih.gov |
Eligibility: Faculty from historically black colleges and universities Increases the scientific knowledge base and participation of faculty from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in cancer research. This award will provide travel and subsistence funds to support the attendance of meritorious faculty members from eligible institutions at annual meetings or special conferences on more focused scientific topics of the AACR. |
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American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) - Young Minority Scientists in the Field of Cancer ncicrchd@mail.nih.gov |
Eligibility: Undergraduates, Predoctoral, Postdoctoral, Investigators Supports students, faculty researchers and young physicians from underrepresented backgrounds to attend the national meetings of the AACR and participate in stimulating exchange of cancer research methods and experimental approaches. The Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award covers fees associated with registration, transportation, meals and lodging. |
CURE Resources
CURE Fact Sheets
Review and download CURE and other CRCHD funding opportunity and programmatic fact sheets on the Health Disparities Resources page.
The CURE Paradigm: Enhancing Workforce Diversity
Learn more about the CURE program in this comprehensive monograph which has a special forward from CRCHD Director Dr. Sanya Springfield. Download the PDF.
The CURE Infographic
Discover more about the details of who is eligible for the CURE program and the amazing benefits it provides. Download the PDF.