Trainees from Puerto Rico and the United States who completed the scientific research training program known as the “Cancer Prevention and Control Research Training Program” (CAPAC) at the UPR Comprehensive Cancer Center during the closing session of the 2024 cycle.
The Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Puerto Rico (CCCUPR) successfully concluded the inaugural session of its scientific research training program, known as the “Cancer Prevention and Control Research Training Program” (CAPAC). “The CAPAC participants had the opportunity to present their findings from cancer research projects they worked on over the summer, under the guidance of scientific mentors from various research centers in Puerto Rico with whom we collaborate: the Medical Sciences Campus and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, the Central University of the Caribbean in Bayamón, Ponce Health Sciences University, and the CCCUPR. We are thrilled to announce that the CAPAC program has been renewed for the next five years to continue our goal of increasing the number of students pursuing doctoral degrees and/or careers as cancer researchers. This represents a significant opportunity to contribute to the development of the next generation of global cancer researchers and to improve the health of the Hispanic population.” emphasized Dr. Ana Patricia Ortiz, Director of the CAPAC Program, researcher at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. For more information about the program, please contact 787-772-8300, extension 1421, or visit http://www.cccupr.org/programas/capac-training-program/. You can also visit the program’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/capacpuertorico.
The CAPAC team from left to right: Dr. Ana Patricia Ortiz (Director of the CAPAC Program), Nadia Centeno-Alvarado, MPHE, MPH (Program Coordinator), and Dr. Marievelisse Soto-Salgado (Associate Director of CAPAC).
Applications for the 2025 Cycle
The Cancer Prevention and Control (CAPAC) Research Training Program is excited to open its application period for graduate students [master-level (public health or biomedical sciences, etc.) and health professional students (MD, DMD, DNP, and PharmD) and recent graduates from any of these programs]. The program includes a 10- or 15-week full-time experience participating in a research project and complementary educational and professional skill-building activities. The CAPAC Research Training Program at the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UPRCCC) aims to increase the pool of master’s degree graduates and other health professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and/or a career in cancer prevention and control research with a focus on Hispanic health and health disparities. The long-term goal of this Program is to contribute to developing the next generation of successful cancer control researchers with a cultural sensitivity to the Hispanic population. The deadline for application is January 24, 2025. To learn more, visit https://www.cccupr.org/programas/capac-training-program/.
