Research Education

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT- RESEARCH EDUCATION CORE The Research Education Core (REC) of the H-H U54 is committed to advancing cancer research education at Howard University (HU) and strengthening the national cancer research workforce. Building on the longstanding collaboration between HU, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), and Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the Core will implement integrated research and educational programs that leverage the complementary strengths of both institutions. Key initiatives include the establishment of a joint Ph.D. program in Medical Physics, the implementation of the “School2Lab” initiative to engage rising junior and senior STEM students from regional high schools, and the development of innovative coursework focused on the applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in cancer research and education. These initiatives will be delivered through the Research Opportunity and Innovation at Johns Hopkins and Howard Universities (ROI@J-HU) training framework, which supports structured mentorship, early research engagement, and cross-institution collaboration. Collectively, these efforts aim to expand access to advanced training in oncology and biomedical sciences, while preparing a skilled and well-equipped workforce to address emerging challenges in cancer research and care.