The University of Maryland Marlene Stewart Greenbaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) has been awarded a prestigious $3 million National Cancer Institute (NCI) Career Development Award to develop the next generation of oncology researchers focused on treating patients from all backgrounds.
The Advancing Oncologic Research Communities in Health Equity (ARCH) K12 program supports junior faculty and postdoctoral fellows in the final stages of their training who are interested in pursuing research to improve cancer outcomes for patients from a wide range of backgrounds within the community.
“This award recognizes UMGCCC’s excellence in community-informed cancer research and treatment tailored to the patients we serve in Baltimore, Maryland and beyond,” said Taofeek K. Owoniko, M.D., UMGCCC Executive Director and Kevin J. Cullen Distinguished Professor of Medicine in Oncology at the UM School of Medicine. (UMSOM) “We are proud that NCI recognizes our unique relationship with our communities and feel we are poised to successfully train the next generation to take on this work.”
Dr. Owoniko is one of three principal investigators to receive this award. His co-principal investigators are UMGCCC Deputy Director Stuart Martin, Ph.D., and Rebecca G. Nowak, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor of epidemiology and public health at UMSOM. Together they will oversee the program and study its impact. UMGCCC is the only cancer center in the nation to receive this grant from NCI in 2025.
“Advances in cancer research over the past 30 years have completely changed the prognosis for many forms of cancer,” said Dr. Martin, who also serves as the UMSOM Pharmacology and Physiology Chair. “We have the opportunity to continue this momentum by investing in researchers early in their careers, especially those who are passionate about community oncology. I truly believe this award will have a tangible impact on patients in the not-too-distant future.”
The $3 million prize will be distributed over five years. Interested applicants affiliated with the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) are invited to apply to the ARCH K12 program by April 8, 2026. Accepted scholars receive two years of comprehensive support and mentoring.
“As an epidemiologist, I am excited about the opportunity to make breakthrough advances in cancer tracking and prevention,” Dr. Nowak said. “This NCI award provides critical support to answer questions about this disease and how it impacts our communities.”
UMGCCC has long been nationally recognized for enrolling patients from a wide range of backgrounds in potentially life-saving clinical trials. This reflects the deep trust we have built with our community and our continued investment in research programs that engage learners from middle school students to postdoctoral training. This new grant will help connect the dots to address cancer disparities, connecting young oncology researchers committed to health equity with the tailored training, professional development, community engagement, and prevention efforts needed to drive meaningful change. ”
Mark T. Gladwin, MD, UMSOM Dean
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University of Maryland School of Medicine
