High School Summer Research Program

The Accelerate Cancer Education (ACE) program is a paid summer research program specifically designed for high school students living in Wyandotte County, Kansas and Jackson County, Missouri. The goals of the 6-week program are to expose students interested in biomedical careers to firsthand educational experiences related to oncology, introduce them to a variety of potential career paths and demonstrate the commitment of The University of Kansas Cancer Center to a diverse workforce by offering a comprehensive education and training experience to a wide variety of students.

ACE is important because it helps to identify and educate the next generation of the oncology workforce by providing this learning experience to local high school students. This is a timely priority, as cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and according to the National Cancer Institute, the number of new cancer cases per year is expected to rise to 23.6 million globally by 2030.

Furthermore, minority groups in this country bear a greater burden for some forms of cancer, due to poverty which creates barriers to cancer prevention, early detection and high-quality treatment. Evidence also suggests that minority patients, in some cases, are more comfortable receiving medical care from a minority healthcare professional.

To deliver on the goals of the program, ACE participants are exposed to a wide-ranging oncology-focused curriculum on-site at the cancer center. Each student is matched with a faculty mentor and tasked with a summer research project. Projects may take place in the laboratory, clinic or in an office setting, allowing the participants to explore a specific facet of cancer research in greater depth. At the conclusion of the program, ACE participants present their projects in a poster session. Participants will also receive a $2,580 stipend upon program completion. The cancer center is proud to offer this important educational opportunity to local students in the community.

Program Leadership

Lisa Harlan-Williams, PhD, serves as director of the ACE Program and Sierra Stites, MPH is the ACE program manager. Together, they manage all aspects of the program and work closely with students and faculty mentors.