The College of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Complete Most cancers Heart (UMGCCC) has been awarded a prestigious $3 million Nationwide Most cancers Institute (NCI) Profession Growth Award to coach the subsequent technology of oncology researchers centered on treating sufferers of all backgrounds.
The Advancing Oncologic Analysis Communities in Well being Fairness (ARCH) K12 Program will help early-career school and postdoctoral fellows of their remaining phases of coaching who’re thinking about pursuing analysis to enhance most cancers outcomes for sufferers from a broad vary of backgrounds in our neighborhood.
“This award is a recognition of UMGCCC’s excellence in community-informed most cancers analysis and therapy 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 Drugs. (UMSOM) “We’re proud that the NCI acknowledges our distinctive relationship with the neighborhood and really feel ready to reach coaching the subsequent technology to hold on this work.”
Dr. Owonikoko is considered one of 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 may oversee this system and examine its affect. UMGCCC was the one Most cancers Heart within the nation to be awarded this grant by the NCI in 2025.
“Developments in most cancers analysis over the past 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. “Now we have the chance to maintain this momentum going by investing in researchers at an early stage of their careers, particularly these with a dedication to neighborhood oncology. I really consider this award could have a tangible affect on sufferers within the not-so-distant future.”
The $3 million award might 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 vital 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 probably lifesaving scientific trials. This displays the deep belief we have constructed with our communities and our sustained funding in analysis applications that interact learners from center faculty via postdoctoral coaching. This new grant will assist us join the dots to handle most cancers disparities-linking early-career oncology researchers dedicated to well being fairness with the coordinated coaching, skilled improvement, neighborhood engagement, and prevention efforts wanted to drive significant change.”
Mark T. Gladwin, MD, UMSOM Dean