High School, Undergraduate and Postbaccalaureate Students
At the University of Illinois Cancer Center, we cultivate a diverse future healthcare workforce by introducing high school and undergraduate students to cancer research. The Cancer Center, in collaboration with other University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) programs, provides biomedical and population health research experiences to groups of diverse students.
High School Programs
CHESS – Cancer Health Engagement Summer Scholars Program
The Cancer Health Engagement Summer Scholars (CHESS) program is an eight-week summer program that trains and mentors underrepresented high school students interested in careers focusing on cancer research and other health professions. CHESS is a collaboration between the University of Illinois Cancer Center and the UIC Urban Health Program.
The ResearcHStart program introduces high school students to cancer research and offers glimpses into the fields of biophysics, biochemistry, immunology and pharmacology. The program is a multi-institution collaboration between the University of Chicago, University of Illinois Cancer Center at UIC, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University and Rush University.
Undergraduate and Postbaccalaureate Programs
Undergraduate Cancer Research Exploration and Training Experience (U-CREATE)
The Undergraduate Cancer Research Exploration and Training Experience (U-CREATE) is a 10-week, research-intensive summer program for undergraduate students pursuing careers in biomedical fields, cancer research and the health professions. Students will participate in cancer research under the guidance of a mentor and receive a stipend. Students also take part in cohort building, career development and didactic lessons on the social determinants of health.
New Program (2026) – MS of Physiology for Therapeutic Development (MaPTD)
The MS of Physiology for Therapeutic Development (MaPTD) is a newly developed one-year, classroom-based program in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics in the College of Medicine at UIC, designed to prepare students for impactful careers in clinical trial research, implementation and enrollment. The MaPTD provides rigorous education in human physiology and disease, enabling students to translate scientific discoveries into rational, patient-centered trial designs. With this integrated approach, graduates will be uniquely equipped to support and improve clinical trial execution in both academic and biopharmaceutical settings, ultimately enhancing trial enrollment and the development of effective therapies.
U-EXCEL – Undergraduates Expanding in Cancer Education and Lab Experience Program
The Undergraduate Expanding in Cancer Education and Lab (U-EXCEL) experience at the University of Illinois Cancer Center offers students a unique, year-long opportunity (from Fall to Summer) to extend their research experience in a faculty lab. Participants receive monetary compensation for their work and increase their chances of presenting at conferences or publishing their research. To be eligible, applicants must have recently participated in previous research or enrichment programs, be eligible for payment, and belong to groups underrepresented in biomedicine, including certain racial or ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds as defined by the NIH. This program is dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion in biomedical research.
