The College of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Complete Most cancers Middle (UMGCCC) has been awarded a prestigious $3 million Nationwide Most cancers Institute (NCI) Profession Growth Award to coach the subsequent era of oncology researchers targeted on treating sufferers of all backgrounds.
The Advancing Oncologic Analysis Communities in Well being Fairness (ARCH) K12 Program will help early-career college and postdoctoral fellows of their ultimate phases of coaching who’re fascinated by pursuing analysis to enhance most cancers outcomes for sufferers from a broad vary of backgrounds in our group.
“This award is a recognition of UMGCCC’s excellence in community-informed most cancers analysis and remedy that’s tailor-made to the sufferers we serve in Baltimore, Maryland, and past,” mentioned Taofeek Ok. Owonikoko, MD, Govt Director of UMGCCC who can also be the Kevin J. Cullen M.D. Distinguished Professor in Oncology on the UM College of Medication. (UMSOM) “We’re proud that the NCI acknowledges our distinctive relationship with the group and really feel ready to reach coaching the subsequent era to hold on this work.”
Dr. Owonikoko is one among three Principal Investigators who have been granted the award. His Co-Principal Investigators are UMGCCC Deputy Director Stuart Martin, PhD, and Rebecca G. Nowak, PhD, MPH, Affiliate Professor of Epidemiology & Public Well being at UMSOM. Collectively they are going to oversee this system and research its impression. UMGCCC was the one Most cancers Middle within the nation to be awarded this grant by the NCI in 2025.
“Developments in most cancers analysis during the last three a long time have fully modified the prognosis for a lot of types of most cancers,” mentioned Dr. Martin, who additionally serves as UMSOM Chair of Pharmacology & Physiology. “We’ve the chance to maintain this momentum going by investing in researchers at an early stage of their careers, particularly these with a dedication to group oncology. I actually consider this award could have a tangible impression on sufferers within the not-so-distant future.”
The $3 million award shall be distributed over a five-year interval. candidates affiliated with the College of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) are invited to use for the ARCH K12 Program by April 8, 2026. Accepted students will obtain two years of complete help and mentorship.
“As an epidemiologist, I’m excited concerning the alternative to make breakthroughs in monitoring and stopping most cancers,” mentioned Dr. Nowak. “This NCI award will present necessary help to reply questions on this illness and the way it impacts our communities.”
UMGCCC has lengthy been acknowledged nationally for enrolling sufferers from a broad vary of backgrounds in doubtlessly lifesaving medical trials. This displays the deep belief we have constructed with our communities and our sustained funding in analysis packages that have interaction learners from center faculty by postdoctoral coaching. This new grant will assist us join the dots to deal with most cancers disparities-linking early-career oncology researchers dedicated to well being fairness with the coordinated coaching, skilled improvement, group engagement, and prevention efforts wanted to drive significant change.”
Mark T. Gladwin, MD, UMSOM Dean
Supply:
College of Maryland College of Medication
