The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) received five years of funding to address the shortfall of URMs and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals engaged in cancer research-related careers. Funding for the program comes from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH’s) National Cancer Institute (NCI). With funding beginning in September 2017, the team completed its sixth year of implementation in August 2023. The team’s specific goal for these awarded funds is to engage the scientific curiosity, and promote the academic success and future research careers, of promising young scientists from underrepresented communities.

Each year, approximately 40 talented high school and college students from the surrounding area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, selected through a competitive application process, engage in a program comprised of three interrelated components: (1) mentored, full- time summer research experiences connected to DF/HCC cancer research labs; (2) a year-round innovative Strategies for Science Success curriculum focused on building scientific and professional competency; and (3) community and family engagement and outreach geared towards developing a supportive, informed, and engaged network who look to nurture and empower program participants to achieve academic success and pursue careers in scientific research. These three components are woven together into a comprehensive, multi-year experience that primes participants for further academic training and careers in scientific research and the pursuit of further, program-independent research experiences.

Additionally, the team leverages extensive student tracking expertise to assess the impact of the YES for CURE Program on student interest in and preparation for cancer and cancer disparities research careers and their scientific skills and concepts acquisition. By focusing on students early in their academic career, the team anticipates that the YES for CURE Program will spark and nurture participants’ interest in pursuing science degrees and cancer research careers and increase the retention of underrepresented participants in cancer-related fields.