Building the cancer research workforce through implementation of the RACE21 undergraduate cancer research and...

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the state of Alabama and disproportionately affects communities that are rural, of lower socioeconomic status, and individuals with high-risk, predisposing conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, advanced age, and diabetes. One method to address the increased burden of cancer is to expand the cancer research and clinical workforce. The Roadmap for America's Cancer Explorers for the 21st Century (RACE21) is a National Cancer Institute-funded Youth Enjoy Science program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center aimed to develop a pathway to excite and attract students to cancer research and clinical careers by expanding cancer-related educational and research opportunities for undergraduate students.

This study evaluated the RACE21 undergraduate cancer research training program using a mixed-methods evaluation design. Participants included early-stage undergraduate students engaged in mentored cancer research for up to four years with funded UAB mentors. Evaluation data included pre- and post-surveys of cancer research attitudes, confidence, career interests, scholar reflections, and interviews examining research identity and persistence towards science careers; documentation of research presentations and publications; and program participation records. Quantitative data were analyzed using pre/post statistical comparisons, and qualitative responses were analyzed thematically to examine program outcomes related to research engagement, community outreach, and career development.

During its initial 5 years, RACE21 recruited 78 undergraduate students, of whom 51 have already graduated, achieving a 98.5% graduation rate. Scholars participated extensively in mentored cancer research across 43 faculty-led laboratories and achieved over 100 presentations at local, national, and international scientific meetings, as well as 53 peer-reviewed publications. Evaluative results showed increased confidence and engagement in cancer biology research, with significant gains in attitudes towards research participation. Community outreach through BioBridge summer camp facilitation reached more than 170 rising high school students, strengthening RACE21 scholars' communication and mentoring skills. Approximately 80% of program alumni are continuing their education in graduate school, medical training, or positions in cancer or healthcare.

These findings suggest that RACE21 is a scalable and successful model for engaging and preparing undergraduate students for high-level cancer research education, demonstrating that sustained participation in authentic cancer research experiences strengthens students' confidence, research identity, and engagement, and increases their potential commitment to cancer-related career pathways.

The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-026-02251-w.