Increasing the Representation of Minority Students in the Biomedical Workforce: the ReTOOL Program.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Disparities Research
• Workforce Development

Background:

• Cancer disparities disproportionately affect minority populations, highlighting the need for a diverse oncology research workforce.
• Limited progress in eliminating cancer disparities necessitates increased participation of minority populations in clinical trials.
• Florida faced a shortage of underrepresented minority (URM) cancer scientists, prompting targeted intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and evaluate the Florida Prostate Cancer Research Training Opportunities for Outstanding Leaders (ReTOOL) Program.
• To address the lack of well-trained URM cancer scientists in Florida.
• To expand the program to cover all cancer disparities and include students from all Florida Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Main Methods:

• The ReTOOL Program, established in 2012, partnered the University of Florida with Florida A&M University.
• The program focused on culturally sensitive recruitment, mentorship, didactic curriculum, networking, and hands-on cancer research experience.
• The ReTOOL model was administered for five years, incorporating key inputs and processes for effective research training.

Main Results:

• The ReTOOL program successfully secured intramural and extramural federal funding for sustained training.
• The program expanded to encompass all cancer disparities and included students from all Florida HBCUs.
• The initiative increased the pool of URM candidates pursuing scientific and academic careers focused on reducing cancer health disparities.

Conclusions:

• Effective research training programs require strategic inputs, including institutional partnerships and dedicated mentorship.
• Robust processes, such as a pipeline approach and continuous mentoring, are crucial for program success.
• The ReTOOL model provides a framework for developing a diverse oncology workforce to address cancer health disparities.