Summer research programs at the University of Illinois Cancer Center are set to begin soon. These programs are central to the mission of Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) at the Cancer Center.
There are two programs for high school students, two programs for undergraduate students and one program for medical school students. The goal of these programs is to build a pipeline of researchers and trainees who will continue to address the needs of diverse patient populations.
Program descriptions and start dates are as follows:
For High School Students
ResearcHStart: June 10 – August 2
The ResearcHStart program introduces high school students to cancer research by introducing them to biophysics, biochemistry, immunology and pharmacology. The program is a multi-institution program with the Cancer Center, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University and Rush University.
Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars (CHESS): June 10 – August 2
CHESS 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 Cancer Center and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Urban Health Program.
For Undergraduate Student
ChicagoCHEC Fellows: June 10 – August 2
The ChicagoCHEC Fellows program prepares students for careers in social, behavioral and biomedical research and in health care. During the eight-week program, fellows meet with leading scholars in basic, clinical, translational, prevention, control, behavioral and population research over a course of research lectures at the University of Illinois Cancer Center, the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and Northeastern Illinois University.
Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR): June 3 – August 9
University of Illinois (UI) DICR at the Cancer Center, through funding from the American Cancer Society, is a 10-week summer program that trains and mentors underrepresented minority undergraduate students interested in careers focusing on cancer research and other health professions. Watch this video to learn more about UI DICR from some of the students who participated in 2023.
For Medical Students
Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Award Program (Winn CIPP): June 3 – July 12
The Cancer Center is among the sites for Winn CIPP, a six-week summer service-learning externship in community-based clinical research where medical students benefit from exposures to clinical research, community engagement experiences and leadership development. Winn is a former director of the Cancer Center who now leads the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in Richmond, Virginia.