Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center

Travel Grants | Training Programs | Fellowship Programs | CURE Summer Program | Master of Biotechnology

Training and Travel > CURE (Continuing Umbrella of Research Experience) Program

Program Description
CURE (Continuing Umbrella of Research Experience Program), a program that gives underserved college students the opportunity to work alongside top cancer researchers is funded by the Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Branch (CMBB) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Since 1999, the Lurie Cancer Center has accepted over 80 college students to work alongside top researchers in its state-of-the-art laboratories. The scientists act as mentors and work with students on nationally funded projects and all aspects of laboratory research during the eight-week summer program. Students are also introduced to the basics of cancer research through seminars presented by faculty on a wide variety of research topics. At the end of the CURE program, each trainee is required to prepare a brief written summary and an oral report of his or her project to fellow CURE students and faculty mentors. To receive credit for participating in CURE, each trainee must turn in their finished written report and an evaluation of the program

Program Dates
This year's program will run from June 16 to August 8, 2008..

Curriculum
Students accepted into CURE work full time for eight weeks on a research project in a biomedical discipline under the guidance of a Cancer Center faculty mentor. The majority of the time is spent participating in laboratory research, allowing participants to experience directly what it means to be a biomedical researcher. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental principles of scientific investigation. Students are also introduced to the basics of cancer research through seminars presented by faculty on a wide variety of research topics. At the end of the CURE program, each trainee is required to prepare a brief written summary and an oral report of his or her activities for presentation to fellow CURE students and their research mentors. To receive credit for participating in CURE, each trainee must turn in their finished written report and an evaluation of the program.

Qualifications
To qualify for the 2009 program, students must be classified by September 2009 as college freshmen, sophomore, junior or senior students. Applicants should be pursuing a major in the sciences, and their transcripts should demonstrate a record of academic achievement. Students must be economically disadvantaged or African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander or Native American.

Stipend
Participants in the CURE program receive a taxable stipend of approximately $3,200 to subsidize their expenses so that they may participate in the program.

This year's CURE program runs from June 16 to August 8, 2008.

Housing
Housing is available on the Evanston Campus of Northwestern University for students who do not live in the Chicago area. Students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Housing directly for additional information (847.491.7564; www.northwestern.edu/housing).

To Apply
Applications for the 2009 program will be available on this site.

For More Information
Robin Leikin, PhD, Program Director
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
Northwestern University
312.908.9229 or rleikin@northwestern.edu