As part of the Cancer Research Institute’s mission, we are committed to nurturing, promoting, and funding diversity in the community of scientists in the field of immunotherapy. CRI is also committed to promoting health equity for all by educating and empowering at-risk cancer patients with trusted information about cancer immunotherapy treatment options and how to access them.
Scientific discovery leading to improvements in cancer care is best advanced not only through excellence in academic and professional training, but also by diversity in thinking and problem solving as well as diversity in patient populations participating in clinical research. To that end, this year we are excited to launch the following new initiatives:
- CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship to Promote Racial Diversity: provides up to three years of funding to qualified young scientists from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who wish to receive training in fundamental immunology and cancer immunology under the mentorship of leading scientists at universities and research centers around the world.
- Spanish-Language Immunotherapy Education Program for Patients and Caregivers: In June as part of Cancer Immunotherapy Month, we will launch a Spanish-language version of the CRI website focused on providing trusted information about cancer immunotherapy and clinical trials to those for whom Spanish is a preferred or only language. This includes cancer-specific immunotherapy information, subtitled videos, select blog posts, and more.
- Virtual Immunotherapy Patient Summit in Spanish: In Fall 2021, CRI will host its first all-Spanish-language virtual summit connecting cancer patients and caregivers with immunotherapy experts. Program topics include an overview of cancer immunotherapy basics, accessing clinical trials, and cancer care disparities specifically affecting the Hispanic and Latino/Latina communities.
CRI will continue to seek new opportunities within our mission that aim to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion across the cancer immunology and immunotherapy research and patient treatment continuum with the ultimate goal of saving more lives.
April 6, 2021