Objectives of the Building Minority Research Capacity Project

Research investigators at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) and New Mexico State University (NMSU) have set three objectives for the "Building Minority Research Capacity" project.

Objective One:
Establish a long-lasting infrastructure to conduct cancer research at NMSU. Components of the infrastructure will include a plan for recruiting NMSU faculty into cancer research; the development of an exchange program for faculty and students; and the establishment of a research curriculum at NMSU that will increase knowledge of and skills to address cancer disparities among minority populations. Future plans include the development of a cancer research focus in biomedical science and nursing.

Objective Two:
Building on existing programs at NMSU, develop a structure to recruit, train, and mentor undergraduate and graduate minority students for careers in cancer research.

Objective Three:
Provide NMSU and FHCRC with new research experiences that will benefit scientists at both institutions as well as the populations served by each institution. This will be accomplished by conducting the five pilot projects listed below with additional projects added in years four and five of the grant.

Pilot Project One (closed):
Defining Biochemical Principles in the Encapsidation Pathways of Human Viral Pathogens

Pilot Project Two:
Anticancer Activity of Native Plants of the Southwest

Pilot Project Three:
Molecular Analysis of Myogenic Regulatory Genes During De-Differentiation and Re-Differentiation of the Regenerating Tail of Adult Vertebrate Teleosts

Pilot Project Four:
Metabolic Responses to Hypoxia

Pilot Project Five:
Enhancing Colorectal Screening for Minorities

Pilot Project Six:
Identification of Aurora-like and Polo-like Kinase Substrates

As the partnership develops, a system will be established to alert scientists at each institution of new studies and funding opportunities that may be appropriate for collaboration. Joint RO1 applications will be written when pilot work produces interesting findings.