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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

Diversity Research Supplements

Dr. Belem López
(240) 276-5433

JoBeth McCarthy (C)
(240) 276-6478

Dr. Jason Liu
(240) 276-6253

Fulera Salami
(240) 276-7192

Dr. Chantel Fuqua

CUREsupplements@nih.gov

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.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (F31)

Dr. Anthony DiBello
(240) 276-6936

Dr. Sangeeta Ghosh
(240) 276-5065

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.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry, Re-integration into, and Re-training in Health-Related Research Careers (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Dr. Belem López
(240) 276-5433

JoBeth McCarthy (C)
(240) 276-6478

Dr. Jason Liu
(240) 276-6253

Fulera Salami
(240) 276-7192

CUREsupplements@nih.gov

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. 

Re-Training and Re-Tooling Eligibility: Candidates who have at least 2 years of postdoctoral research experience, scientists appointed as Research Associates, Instructors, Assistant or Associate Professors, and other scientists employed in government or industry with experiences equivalent to those of postdoctoral candidates are eligible to apply.

Provides support and protected time for a mentored research experience that allows an early or mid-career candidate to obtain new skills that can allow the candidate to go to a new research direction while augmenting the parent grant.

NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity

Dr. Shahrooz Vahedi
(240) 276-7754

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.

NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity

Dr. Laritza Rodriguez
(240) 276-5969

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.

NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity

Dr. Shahrooz Vahedi
(240) 276-7754

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.

Exploratory Grant Award to Promote Workforce Diversity in Basic Cancer Research (R21)

Dr. Laritza Rodriguez
(240) 276-5969

Dr. Sangeeta Ghosh
(240) 276-5065

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

Youth Enjoy Science (YES) Research Education Program (R25)

Dr. Belem López
(240) 276-5433

Dr. Sangeeta Ghosh
(240) 276-5065

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

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) - HBCU Faculty in the Field of Cancer

ncicrchd@mail.nih.gov
(240) 276-6170

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.

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) - Young Minority Scientists in the Field of Cancer

ncicrchd@mail.nih.gov
(240) 276-6170

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.

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