NCI Cancer Education Program

Program Objectives

Cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality in the Commonwealth of Kentucky are among the highest in the nation. The mission of the Brown Cancer Center is to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality. The long-term objective of the University of Louisville Cancer Education Program is to recruit, educate and motivate outstanding undergraduate and professional students to pursue further training and future careers in cancer research.  Additional information on student demographics, outcomes, and training is available in the program brochure, video, publication in the Journal of Cancer Education an April 2017 announcement regarding renewed funding.  There is also a short WHAS 11 TV video.

Program Application and Duration

The program is scheduled for ten weeks (typically starting the Tuesday after Memorial Day and ending late July).   Funding for the program is not available for the summer of 2025.  A proposal will be submitted to resume the program in the summer of 2026.

Student Subsistence Allowance

Student subsistence allowance is provided for professional students and undergraduate students.  Additional funds can be provided to students from outside the Louisville metropolitan area for travel expenses to and from Louisville.  Students from outside the Louisville metropolitan area may be provided with university housing or they may arrange their own housing. 

Laboratory Supply Budget

Up to $1000/student for poster production and research supplies.

Poster Presentation

Students will be expected to present their research findings at the annual Research!Louisville meeting. Sufficient funds will be awarded to pay for preparation of research posters. Research posters will be judged and prizes will be awarded to both students and their mentors.  Access to previous research posters and award winners are accessible from the links at left.

Student Selection Criteria

An important student selection criterion for the Cancer Education Program is the intent to engage in cancer research in their future training and/or career. Students from underrepresented minority groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Participating Faculty Mentors

Faculty mentors may include any faculty member at the University of Louisville conducting clinical and/or basic research relevant to cancer. Most of these faculty mentors are affiliated with the Brown Cancer Center.

Participating Students

Because this is a National Cancer Institute-funded program, all student participants must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States of America. Health professional students (enrolled in the schools of Dentistry, Medicine, or Nursing) and university undergraduates are eligible, but they must be enrolled in a degree program. Participation in the ten week summer program usually requires enrollment in a degree program the Spring semester prior to the summer program and enrollment in the Fall semester following the summer program. Students transitioning from undergraduate to graduate or health professional school are eligible, but must show evidence of enrollment for the preceding Spring and subsequent Fall semester. Students already enrolled in graduate school are not eligible. Students enrolled at any accredited university are eligible and university housing may be provided for outstanding out of town applicants, subject to availability of funds.  Outstanding students are eligible to apply to continue their research experience past the 10 week program or into the next year.

Medical Students

The Cancer Education Program is integrated with the School of Medicine’s Summer Research Scholar Program (SRSP) and its Distinction in Research (DIR) track. Medical students begin by making application to the SRSP program indicating on their application if they are interested in participating in the DIR program and/or the Cancer Education Program.  Research and conference travel funds are available for participant alumni who continue on their cancer research project within the DIR program.

Dental Students

The Cancer Education Program is integrated with the School of Dentistry’s Summer Research Program. DMD students who elect to conduct a cancer research project will be eligible for support from the Cancer Education Program. Students  will be encouraged to continue their cancer related research project during the subsequent years of the DMD curriculum. Dental students should initially apply for these positions through the School of Dentistry’s Summer Research Program and indicate on the application that they are interested in a Cancer Education Program position.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students at all levels are eligible, but rising juniors and seniors are preferred. Students participating in the ten week summer, program should be enrolled in a degree program the Spring semester prior to the summer program and should be planning to be enrolled in the Fall semester following the summer program. Students enrolled at any accredited university are eligible and university housing may be provided for outstanding out of town applicants, subject to availability of funds.  The AAMC reports that over 75% of applicants to US medical schools in 2017 have research experience.  Participation in the Cancer Education Program provides a rich and enhanced research opportunity.

Source of Funding

National Cancer Institute grant R25-CA134283. 

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