It has become increasingly difficult for junior investigators to succeed on an academic career trajectory, primarily because of the hypercompetitive funding climate. The Advanced Course on Cancer-Related Health Disparities Research, Mentoring, and Leadership courses aim to train cancer researchers - particularly junior faculty - in maintaining long-term productivity in their cancer research careers.
Our annual training is an NCI-funded skills development course tailored to advance essential skills for a successful career in cancer research. In addition to the trainings led by world-class experts in their respective fields, our selective program provides 25 annual participants with: travel reimbursements for costs to attend the conference (up to $1000), lodging, food and per-diem meal payments, data analysis software access up to $500, peer and mentor networking, 1:1 career planning meetings, and other support items.
This unique cross-institutional collaboration is led by Indiana University's Kola Okuyemi, MD MPH, and University of Utah's Gita Suneja, MD, MS, who have led top-rated cohorts of the Advanced Course together since 2020. On alternating years, the in-person cohorts will be hosted either by the University of Utah Huntsman Designated Cancer Institute or the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Use the link below to submit apply for the next cohort.
Apply Today - Course Seats Are Limited!The Next Cohort is May 19th - May 22nd, 2025, in Indianapolis
The Advanced Course will provide innovative state-of-the-art, evidence-based career development experiences to selected participants to enhance their skills in cancer disparities research, mentoring, and leadership for successful transition to independent academic careers. The course focuses on these educational domains:
- Culturally-specific behavioral interventions
- Leveraging cancer-related databases
- Enhancing mentoring skills
- Strengthening leadership capacity
The next cohort for this training will be held in Indianapolis, IN, for 3.5 days from Monday, May 19 through Thursday, May 22, 2025. Applications for the 2025 cohort close on February 28th, 2025.
Find out more about the Advanced Course
Meet the Utah Advanced Course Primary Investigators:
Dr. Okuyemi is PI for the NCI-funded Advanced Course and professor and chair for the Department of Family Medicine, and associate dean for health equity research at IU School of Medicine. With over 20 years of experience as an effective executive leader and researcher, he has focused on research and training programs that improve the health of underserved populations and elimination health disparities and inequities using community-engaged research alongside pharmacological and culturally tailored behavioral interventions.
Dr. Suneja is a radiation oncologist with a strong foundation in health services and health equity research. Her clinical specialties include the treatment of breast and gynecologic malignancies, and her research program focuses on cancer treatment and outcomes in the HIV population. She has substantial experience conducting research and providing clinical care to people with HIV and cancer both in the U.S. and in global low resource settings, as well as in advancing workforce diversity in medicine and science.