The Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE)
The Center for Cancer Health Equity (CCHE) CURE program offers unique training and workforce development opportunities for scholars across the educational continuum to promote the diversity of 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
CCHE provides extensive funding opportunities for training and career development in cancer research, training, education, and outreach. CCHE 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.
NCI always encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from the underrepresented groups identified in NIH’s Notice of Interest in Diversity (NOT-OD-20-031), to work with their institutions to apply for NCI support, including under the CURE-related funding opportunities.
Please note that consistent with NIH practice and applicable law, funded programs may not use the race, ethnicity, or sex of prospective program participants or faculty as an eligibility or selection criteria. The race, ethnicity, or sex of candidates will not be considered in the application review process or when making funding decisions.
CURE Opportunities for Individuals
| Title & CCHE Contact | Application Due Date, Eligibility & Purpose |
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Diversity Research Supplements 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 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. Review additional information above under "What Cure Offers".
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Dr. Sangeeta Ghosh |
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. Review additional information above under "What Cure Offers".
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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. 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. Review additional information above under "What Cure Offers". |
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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. This unique award provides the opportunity for recipients to participate in peer-review workshops at the NCI throughout the duration of the award. Review additional information above under "What Cure Offers". |
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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. Review additional information above under "What Cure Offers".
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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 to transition to positions of assistant professor or equivalent and initiate a successful biomedical career as an independent research scientist. Review additional information above under "What Cure Offers". |
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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 to conduct research projects focused on the basic biology of cancer. Review additional information above under "What Cure Offers". |
CURE Opportunities for Institutions
| Title & CCHE Contact | Application Due Date, Eligibility & Purpose |
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Youth Enjoy Science (YES) Research Education Program (R25) Dr. Sangeeta Ghosh JoBeth McCarthy (C) Dan Eckstein (C) |
Due Dates: September 27, 2024, September 26, 2025, September 28, 2026 Eligibility: Grades 6-12 students, Undergraduate students, Grades 6-12 teachers, Undergraduate faculty. Supports efforts to create and maintain an institutional program to engage students in grades 6–12 and/or undergraduate students, teachers, and faculty in cutting-edge cancer research experiences. Review additional information above under "What Cure Offers". |
Additional Funding Opportunities
| Title & CCHE Contact | Application Due Date & Purpose |
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NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Dr. Jason Liu Dan Eckstein (C) |
Due Dates: December 12, 2024, April 12, 2025, August 12, 2025, December 12, 2025, April 12, 2026, August 12, 2026, December 12, 2026 Supports high quality scientific conferences that are relevant to the NIH's mission and to the public health. A conference is defined as a symposium, seminar, workshop, or any other organized and formal meeting, whether conducted face-to-face or via the internet, where individuals assemble (or meet virtually) for the primary purpose to exchange technical information and views or explore or clarify a defined subject, problem, or area of knowledge, whether or not a published report results from such meeting. The NIH recognizes the value to members of the research community and all other interested parties in supporting such forums. |