Advancing Oncologic Research Communities in Health Equity (ARCH) K12 Program

As the US population continues to diversify, the poor health outcomes experienced by communities pose a significant threat to the overall national well-being. The University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) is located in West Baltimore, Maryland, in which ~30% of patients are White, ~62.1% African American/Black and ~62.3% are on Medicaid, Medicare or self-pay. Addressing oncologic health inequities through impactful research and community engagement aligns with UMGCCC culture. UMGCCC researchers have played a leading role in anticancer therapeutic discovery e.g., aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer patients. Also ~40 years ago, Maryland had the highest cancer death rate of all 50 states. UMGCCC faculty and staff led statewide cancer prevention efforts to reduce cancer death rates regarding tobacco cessation and community-based cancer screening efforts; Maryland now is ranked 12th among states with the lowest cancer rate. Recently, UMGCCC, through a partnership supported by an $8M dollar grant from AstraZeneca, launched a new statewide effort to increase low dose CT screenings for early lung cancer detection especially in communities with adverse health outcomes. UMGCCC has also been exemplary in the national effort led by the NCI to increase participation of all patients in clinical trials; UMGCCC has increased patient enrollment from all population on interventional clinical trials, compared to ~7% nationally. Additionally, UMGCCC was recognized by NRG Oncology as a Top 10 performing member institution based on high accrual on NRG Oncology trials, majority of which occurred at our community locations. The above outlined programs combined with a strong clinical oncology research program at UMGCCC provide support for an impactful K12 program. The Worta McCaskill-Stevens Career Development Award (K12) will enable UMGCCC to pursue its vision for a program Advancing Oncology Research Communities in Health Outcomes (ARCH) that encompasses a coordinated set of activities designed for training and professional development of diverse Oncology early career faculty with a focus on cancer prevention and community oncology. The ARCH program will synergize with UMGCCC’s impact upon the West Baltimore community, the state of Maryland and the nation by purposely creating a cadre of ARCH scholars with a commitment to oncology research coupled with community engagement, decisive healthy outcomes and impactful cancer prevention strategies. To do so, we will complete the following Specific Aims. 1.) Develop and implement a systematic and well-coordinated professional development training program leading to scientific independence of early career oncology scholars (ARCH scholar) with a commitment to health outcomes and cancer prevention. 2.) Train and evaluate ARCH scholars in core competencies leading to successful careers as cutting-edge Oncology Health Outcome Researchers. 3.) Establish and evaluate in real time the ARCH program as a local and national resource for collaboration in innovative cancer prevention and community engagement programs. Project Number: 1K12CA301384-01 | Fiscal Year: 2025 | NIH Institute/Center: National Cancer Institute (NCI) | Principal Investigator: Taofeek Owonikoko (+2 co-PIs) | Institution: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE, MD | Award Amount: $54,000 | Activity Code: K12 | Study Section: Institutional Training and Education Study Section (F)[NCI-F] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11130328