Monday, September 16, 2024
9/16/2024
Project Summary The burden of infectious diseases and infection-related malignancies is high among US Hispanics and in Puerto Rico (PR). Thus, research performed in PR provides a unique opportunity to advance cancer research, across the cancer control continuum, with a special focus on the roles of microbes and infections in this field. The University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center has provided mentored cancer prevention and control research experiences in PR for master-level and health professional students since 2019. However, disease- oriented research opportunities for college graduates, specifically postbaccalaureate (post bacs) individuals in PR are scarce. Aligned with the mission of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), to conduct and support basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and prevent infectious diseases, our goal is to recruit, and train underrepresented recent college graduates who are interested in pursuing higher education and research careers in the field. The Research Education Program on Microbes, Infections and Cancer (REPMIC) will recruit 10 post bacs annually (for a total of 50 participants) to participate in a 9-month program (37 weeks) designed to provide them with hands-on research experiences in the fields of microbes, infections and cancer, and educational activities to help them apply and succeed in a graduate (PhD/DrPH) and/or a health professions program. Participants will be selected based on their merit (academic performance, letters of recommendation, and research interests) and will be matched to a mentor based on their research interests in basic, clinical, and population-based research. Educational activities will include seminars and workshops to strengthen their academic and research skills and increase their interest in pursuing a research career in the fields of infectious diseases and cancer. REPMIC aims to: 1) Recruit 10 post bacs annually to participate in a 9-month mentored hands-on research education program focused on understanding the relationships between microbes, infections, and cancer; 2) Provide post bacs with the skills to apply and pursue a graduate or health professions degree and a research career focused on the relationships between microbes, infections, and cancer; and 3) Conduct process and outcome evaluation of program goals. Outcomes of interest to be monitored include: (1) recruitment of participants from underrepresented groups, (2) satisfaction with the research experience and (3) with seminars/workshops, (4) presentations in scientific meetings, (5) scientific publications, and (6) pursuit of a graduate or professional degree and a career on infectious diseases and cancer research. Among relevant topic areas, REPMIC will increase participants’ understanding of the roles of microbes and infections in cancer development and treatment response, as well as in cancer prevention and control research for infection-driven malignancies. REPMIC will also strengthen their research skills and experience, and their competitiveness to continue higher education and a research career with a focus on areas of interest for the NIAID, including HPV, HIV, human microbiome, and health disparities, among others.
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