Collaboration around Research and Education (Care) in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Abstract : Collaboration Around Research and Education (CARE) in Prostate Cancer is a partnership between two universities, Duke University School of Nursing and Bennett College for Women (Bennett), an historically black college or university (HBCU). Our goal is to build a collaborative relationship between Duke University and Bennett that brings together students and faculty mentors to facilitate opportunities for underrepresented minority students to learn about prostate cancer research. To accomplish this goal, we are capitalizing on the strengths of both universities to conduct a 10-week in residence didactic and hands-on training program to expose undergraduate students to prostate cancer prevention, detection and control methods, and basic science and clinical research. The objectives of the CARE program are to provide undergraduate science students with mentored experiential learning to (1) understand the burden of prostate cancer; (2) develop a beginning level of competence in technology resources for information gathering and data management in prostate cancer research; (3) obtain introductory knowledge about the research process (4) gain hands-on experience in clinical and basic science laboratory methods and research processes, and begin to understand community-based prostate cancer control activities; and (5) experience role model development for research and healthcare practice careers, and begin to build networks with researchers and health professionals in a Research I environment. Three undergraduate students participated in this 10-week prostate cancer research mentored experience.