Planning Grant for Bowie State/University of Maryland Cancer Research Training and Education Partnership

Partnership Abstract

Cancer in Maryland, and its impact on the health of minority and underserved rural populations, is a serious health care dilemma. Maryland now ranks 7th nationally in cancer incidence, and significant disparities are seen between African American and Caucasian populations in stage of diagnosis, access to early detection, cancer screening follow-up, treatment, and health services utilization. The goals of the partnership between Bowie State University (BSU) and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and its Program In Oncology and the Marlene and Stewart Greenbaum Cancer Center are to reduce and eventually eliminating cancer health disparities experienced by minority populations in Prince George's county and Baltimore City, Maryland by increasing the number of minority scientists pursuing successful cancer research careers and developing effective cancer education programs specifically targeting minority students and faculty, and the community.

The specific aims of the partnership are: (1) To collaboratively develop and implement a joint minority cancer research career development training program ("Cancer Research Training Program") in cancer health disparities research for BSU junior faculty; (2) To collaboratively enhance the science curriculum at BSU through the development, implementation, and evaluation of a cancer health disparities education curriculum ("Undergraduate Cancer Education Program") to prepare BSU students for mentored undergraduate cancer research training at UMSOM; and (3) To collaboratively develop, implement, and pilot test an enhanced community-based cancer outreach education program ("Community Cancer Outreach Education Program") in Prince George's County specifically targeting minority, underserved communities (i.e., African Americans). The partnership's objectives blend the existing expertise at the collaborating institutions in the form of high quality educational programs and a rich source of talent at BSU and the state-of-the-art cancer research, investigator training, and community outreach programs at UMSOM. The proposed partnership between BSU and UMSOM will address both community and institutional needs to effectively address cancer health disparities.