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The National Cancer Institute seeks to expand minority involvement in cancer control research, through the Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program (CMBP) and the Cancer Center Minority Enhancement Awards (MEAs). MEAs are awarded competitively as supplements to NCI Cancer Centers for the purpose of facilitating the participation of minority groups in cancer control research. By broadening the operational base of cancer centers, MEAs allow expansion of center-based cancer control efforts in prevention, early detection, screening, pre-treatment evaluation, treatment, continuing care and rehabilitation, as well as stimulating the increased involvement of those primary care providers who serve minority populations.
The Minority Health Professional Training Initiative (MHPTI)
The MHPTI, which began in 1991, supports training and career development opportunities for minority health professionals by providing opportunities in oncology research and other subspecialities related to cancer. Such opportunities will increase the number of minority clinicians, clinical researchers, and other health professionals who are prepared to deal with the problem of excess mortality among minority populations due to cancer. As the result of the three Requests for Applications (RFAs) published, four awards to minority clinicians were made in FY 1992. The program has continued through program announcements and two additional awards to faculty members from minority health professional schools were approved for funding in FY 1993.
Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities
The NIH-wide supplemental program entitled "Initiatives for Underrepresented Minorities in Biomedical Research", which began as an extension of the NCI Minority Investigator Supplement Program, includes supplements for Minority High School Students, Minority Undergraduate Students, Minority Graduate Research Assistants and Minority Individuals in Postdoctoral Training. While this mechanism provides support indirectly to minority scientists and students by way of funded grantees, the ultimate intent of these awards is to influence a greater number of minority individuals to develop their research capabilities and pursue independent careers as cancer research investigators.
Co-funding
For the purpose of encouraging undergraduate and graduate students to pursue training related to cancer research, CMBP co-funds, with the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program of National Institute of General Medical Sciences, pre-doctoral fellowships to minority students and Honors Undergraduate Training Grants to minority institutions. Similarly, through co-funding with the Minority Biomedical Research Support program, NCI provides support for specific cancer-related projects at participating minority institutions.
Other NCI Training Opportunities
The Summer Training Supplement is an extension of the MARC program and provides increased training opportunities for MARC scholars by way of short-term intramural laboratory training at the NCI.
Support for Meeting Attendance
CMBP continues to encourage participation of minority students and researchers in annual professional scientific meetings by providing travel support to such organizations as the American Association for Cancer Research and the Electron Microscope Society of America.
Cancer Information Dissemination
The CMBP, jointly with the Office of Cancer Communications (OCC), continues its efforts to heighten awareness about cancer risk and prevention in Black Americans. A contract solicitation was undertaken, and the published Request for Proposal (RFP) was targeted to the network of Black colleges and universities in a variety of settings with close ties to the Black community. The aim of this undertaking is to develop and disseminate information through educational programs regarding steps that can be taken to control or reduce cancer in Black Americans.
Two awards have been made and the contractors are now carrying out the major phase of their projects. Research designs and questionnaires have been developed and cleaared by the Office of Management and Budget.
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