The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) announced on March 27 that it has received a $3 million National Cancer Institute Career Development Award. The funding will be used to train early-career oncology researchers who are focused on improving cancer outcomes for patients from diverse backgrounds.
The grant, called the Advancing Oncologic Research Communities in Health Equity (ARCH) K12 Program, aims to support faculty and postdoctoral fellows at the end of their training who are interested in community-based cancer research. The program is designed to foster new talent dedicated to addressing health disparities in cancer care.
"This award is a recognition of UMGCCC's excellence in community-informed cancer research and treatment that is tailored to the patients we serve in Baltimore, Maryland, and beyond," said Taofeek K. Owonikoko, MD, Executive Director of UMGCCC and Kevin J. Cullen M.D. Distinguished Professor in Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "We are proud that the NCI recognizes our unique relationship with the community and feel prepared to succeed in training the next generation to carry on this work."
Owonikoko serves as one of three Principal Investigators for this award, alongside Stuart Martin, PhD, Deputy Director at UMGCCC and Chair of Pharmacology & Physiology at UMSOM; and Rebecca G. Nowak, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor of Epidemiology & Public Health at UMSOM. Together they will oversee both implementation and evaluation of ARCH K12’s impact.
"Developments in cancer research over the last three decades have completely changed the prognosis for many forms of cancer," said Martin. "We have the opportunity to keep this momentum going by investing in researchers at an early stage in their careers, especially those with a commitment to community oncology. I truly believe this award will have a tangible impact on patients in the not-so-distant future." The five-year grant makes UMGCCC reportedly the only Cancer Center nationwide awarded this particular NCI grant during 2025.
Applications for ARCH K12 are open until April 8 for scholars affiliated with University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB). Accepted applicants will receive two years’ worth of comprehensive mentorship and support through ARCH K12.
"As an epidemiologist, I am excited about the opportunity to make breakthroughs in tracking and preventing cancer," said Nowak. "This NCI award will provide important support to answer questions about this disease and how it impacts our communities."
