Inaugural Prostate Cancer Research Meeting Showcases Next Generation Of Researchers, USA

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Conferences
Article Date: 05 Sep 2007 - 15:00 PDT

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The U.S. Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) will showcase today its commitment toward training and encouraging the next generation of prostate cancer researchers through several abstracts presented at the Innovative Minds in Prostate Cancer Today (IMPaCT) 2007 meeting from September 5-8 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta in Atlanta, GA.

"The PCRP is committed to training and inspiring the next generation of prostate cancer researchers," said Dr. Tim Ratliff, Chair PCRP Integration Panel. "The PCRP provides a platform for those who desire to pursue a career in research that allows the young researchers of tomorrow to gain valuable exposure to prostate cancer research and develop the necessary skills to thrive in such an environment."

Throughout its 10-year history, the PCRP has developed specific funding mechanisms to support scientists from undergraduate studies through establishment as independent faculty investigators. Among these are several award mechanisms focused on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Results from these programs will be showcased in two abstracts presented at the inaugural IMPaCT meeting.

More than 700 young researchers have received funding from the PCRP to develop and establish their careers, including Dr. Folakemi T. Odedina. Dr. Odedina is a past recipient of the PCRP's New Investigator Award and the HBCU Collaborative Partnership Award. She utilized the skills she developed through these award programs to launch a longitudinal study to evaluate behavior towards prostate cancer screening among African-American men.

Results from the above mentioned PCRP-funded studies will be presented within the context of the following abstracts:

Prostate Cancer Summer Research Training Program - Collaboration of the University of Iowa & Lincoln University - David Lubaroff, Ph.D., University of Iowa

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Undergraduate Collaborative Summer Training Program is designed to develop a summer research training experience for students from underrepresented minority populations. Students from the Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, a HBCU institution, are partnered with select University of Iowa faculty members who were chosen based on their research experience in prostate cancer. A formal course in prostate cancer was offered to students that included participation in multiple lab meetings, journal clubs, forums and seminars. The students had an opportunity to present their research results at the end of the summer session. Data show the summer program was highly successful, with all the students involved applying to graduate or medical schools.

This abstract will be presented at a session titled "Training the Next Generation" on Thursday, September 6 at 5:15 p.m.

Minority Undergraduate Research Scholars Training in Prostate Cancer: the Delaware Consortium Experience - Robert Sikes, Ph.D., and David Usher, Ph.D., University of Delaware

The research study discusses a focused program to recruit minority undergraduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), specifically Lincoln University and Delaware State University, for a summer research fellowship focusing on prostate cancer research and minority health disparities. Students went through a competitive application process and spent ten weeks of full-time research in a basic or translational research laboratory. Students also attended enrichment programs, weekly seminars and instructional lectures, as well as biweekly roundtable discussions about health disparity issues. Initially, most students entering the program indicated an interest in pursuing a medical degree. However, following their exposure to conducting prostate cancer research, 80% decided to pursue a graduate research degree rather than medical school.

This abstract will be presented at a session titled "Training the Next Generation" on Thursday, September 6 at 5:15 p.m.

Participants in programs similar to those mentioned above often grow into dedicated physician-researchers through the PCRP. Dr. Folakemi T. Odedina is an example of a young researcher who benefited from the PCRP's programs.

A Behavioral Model of Prostate Cancer Screening for African American Men - Folakemi T. Odedina, Ph.D., Florida A&M University, Tallahassee

For reasons that remain unclear, prostate cancer incidence rates are significantly higher and death rates are more than twice as high for African American men compared to white men. In seeking to understand this disparity, Dr. Folakemi Odedina of Florida A&M University has focused on decisions about prostate cancer screening. Dr. Odedina and colleagues used the Attitude-Social Influence-Efficacy model as a guide to develop a theoretical framework to explain African American men's participation in screening. In a two-phase survey, they determined that participants' knowledge about prostate cancer risk as African American men was low. Importantly, they identified key determinants of intention to undergo prostate cancer screening that can be used in educational interventions to increase screening among African American men.

This abstract will be presented at a session titled "Prevention, Screening, and Early Detection" on Friday, September 7 at 4:30 pm.

About the PCRP

In 1997, prostate cancer advocates lobbied Congress to set aside $45 million to fund new and innovative prostate cancer research. As a result, the Department of Defense was directed to manage these funds which led to a unique partnership between the public, Congress and the military, resulting in the creation of the Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP). Today the PCRP is the second leading source of extramural prostate cancer research funding in the United States. Since its inception, the PCRP has brought together military personnel, scientists, universities and colleges, hospitals, private companies, physicians and prostate cancer survivors in a unique collaboration to facilitate and fund over 1,500 individual grants and $810 million worth of cutting-edge research with the goal of conquering prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Research Program

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