At the University of Illinois Cancer Center, we are cultivating a diverse future health care workforce by introducing high school and undergraduate students to cancer research. The Cancer Center provides biomedical and population health research experiences with support for students from underrepresented populations.
The Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars Program
The Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars (CHESS) program is an eight-week summer program that trains and mentors underrepresented minority high school students interested in careers focusing on cancer research and other health professions. The CHESS Program is a collaboration between the University of Illinois Cancer Center and the Urban Health Program.
For program updates such as the upcoming application cycle, please sign up for the Cancer Center mailing list.
The researcHStart Program
The researcHStart program introduces high school students to cancer research, introducing students to biophysics, biochemistry, immunology, and pharmacology. The program is a multi-institution program with the University of Chicago, University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University, and Rush University.
For program updates, please sign up for the Cancer Center mailing list.
The Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative Fellows program
The Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (ChicagoCHEC) Fellows program is a comprehensive summer learning experience for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students that focuses on developing skills for careers in healthcare and social, behavioral, or biomedical research.
ChicagoCHEC serves students from Northeastern Illinois University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, the City Colleges of Chicago, and other area community colleges who are planning to apply to graduate or medical school.
The UIC Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program
The UIC Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) supports students transferring from Malcolm X College, or another City College of Chicago, to study in a STEM field at UIC.
For program updates, please sign up for the Cancer Center mailing list.
The Portal to Biomedical Research Careers Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program
The Portal to Biomedical Research Careers Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (BPRC PREP) is an NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)-supported program for recent and soon-to-be STEM baccalaureate graduates who intend to pursue a PhD program in biomedical sciences. The BPRC PREP program supports the students financially, strengthens the undergraduate students’ research skills and laboratory experience, and prepares the student for GRE testing.