Diversity in Cancer Research Hands-On Lab Internship at Georgetown U

The Third Annual Diversity in Cancer Research Summer Internship Program at Georgetown University Provides Under-Represented Minority Students with Paid, Hands-On Research Experience to Inspire a Biomedical Career

26 institutions selected nationally for 2023; American Cancer Society’s goal to provide funding for 1,000 interns over the next 10 years.

WHAT: For the third consecutive year, Georgetown University Medical Center is hosting the American Cancer Society (ACS) Diversity in Cancer Research Internship (DICR) program. The 10-week summer program, which began mid-May and runs through early August, is hosting nine students from Bowie State University, Florida Atlantic University, Heritage University, Howard University, Georgetown University, South Dakota State University, Towson University, and the University of Richmond. Interns who qualify for the program are highly talented undergraduate students with an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and medicine) who are from backgrounds historically underrepresented in science. Each intern receives a $5,000 stipend in addition to a unique hands-on experience and mentoring in a cancer research lab.

WHO: Rebecca B. Riggins, PhD, Associate Professor and Associate Director of Education and Training, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center

Dr. Riggins is an ACS-funded cancer researcher at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The American Cancer Society’s overall goal is to increase diversity within the biomedical science workforce since recent data shows that only 7% of applicants for NIH (National Institute of Health) grants and 6% of applicants for ACS grants were part of an URM group. A more inclusive research environment will better address health disparities and could enhance recruitment efforts in clinical research protocols to be more inclusive of people of color.

The Diversity in Cancer Research program is grateful for local funding from Actalent and Facility Logix in the Greater Washington, D.C./Baltimore region.

Nationwide, the other universities in the 2023 ACS DICR program are:

• University of Kentucky
• University of Maryland, Baltimore
• University of New Mexico
• Case Western Reserve University
• University of Miami
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• Georgetown University
• Yale University
• The University of Iowa
• Emory University
• University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio)
• The University of Chicago
• Morehouse School of Medicine, Inc
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Inc
• Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
• Indiana University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, Health Sciences Center
• University of Colorado Denver, AMC and DC
• The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
• The University of Texas at Austin
• University of Southern California (USC)
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Wake Forest University Health Sciences
• Northwestern University - Chicago Campus

###

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.