Environmental Oncology Partnership between Hampton University and UPCI

(Hampton University and University of Pittsburgh Cancer institute)

Partnership Abstract

This goal of this partnership is to establish a research and educational program focused on environmental oncology and environmental epidemiology between Hampton University (HU) and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). The institutions have already established a successful educational program including joint curricula and undergraduate training. This partnership will initiate productive research, mentoring and teaching programs that exploit the strengths of both institutions. The area of environmental translation oncology was identified as a particularly propitious focus of collaboration between HU and UPCI.

The partnership short term objectives are to: 1) establish a strong scientific collaboration focused on environmental toxins between researchers at Hampton and UPCI's Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Science investigators. Features will include an active collaboration studying molecular linkage between pesticides and DNA damage, optimization of the technical infrastructure and resource/information sharing between institutions, and implementation of a formalized mentoring/career development program leading to successful grant submission. 2) Plan and implement a training program in environmental and molecular epidemiology for HU students. Elements of this aim include development and implementation of a multidisciplinary undergraduate curriculum in environmental oncology and epidemiology including seminars, a didactic course, and student externships involving analysis of relevant epidemiologic datasets. The overall objective of the partnership is to establish core expertise and support capabilities at HU to build a cadre of researchers in environmental oncology and build collaborations with UPCI investigating mechanisms of action and epidemiologic of carcinogenic toxins.