2/2 Howard - Hopkins Comprehensive Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health

The H-H U54 Program aims to strengthen collaborative research, training, and community-focused initiatives between Howard University (HU) and the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC). Based in the Washington, DC–Maryland–Virginia (DMV) region, the two institutions together serve a large urban population with varied cancer care needs. Howard University and Johns Hopkins University possess complementary strengths that position them to jointly develop innovative programs that improve cancer research, education, and care delivery. H-H U54 will address the regional cancer burden by integrating research excellence, training infrastructure, and community outreach. The program’s overarching goals are to: (1) support collaborative research projects; (2) expand training opportunities at HU; and (3) improve cancer-related education and care in the region. H-H U54 includes four Cores (Administrative, Outreach, Research Education, and Planning & Evaluation); two Full Research Projects; one Pilot Research Project; and one Shared Resource Core (Data Science Shared Resource). Through these components, the Partnership will: (1) build cancer research and training capacity at HU through collaborative projects and shared resources; (2) advance transdisciplinary cancer research at SKCCC with a focus on regional needs; (3) increase the number of investigators and trainees engaged in cancer-focused research; (4) strengthen the research pipeline through ROI@J-HU (Research Opportunity and Innovation at Johns Hopkins and Howard Universities), a structured framework for training and mentorship across undergraduate, graduate, and early-career levels; and (5) implement community outreach and education programs to enhance public understanding of cancer risk, prevention, and care. The Planning and Evaluation Core will oversee continuous improvement of all program elements. Collectively, H-H U54 aims to foster institutional synergy, cultivate the next generation of cancer researchers, and improve cancer outcomes in the DMV region.