Undergraduate Cancer Research and Training Program

The CDU/UCLA Undergraduate Cancer Research and Training Program, or UCRTP, is a 10-week summer research internship for undergraduate students interested in careers in basic, clinical, translational, or community-based cancer research.

Hosted by the Center for Cancer Innovation and Translation in collaboration with UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, the program provides participants with individualized research training and direct mentorship from faculty researchers at CDU or UCLA.

Program Overview

Each UCRTP participant is paired with a faculty researcher and research team to work on a selected cancer research project in a CDU or UCLA laboratory.

The program is designed to help students develop the knowledge, technical skills, research experience, and professional preparation needed to pursue advanced education and careers in cancer research.

During the 10-week program, students participate in:

• Faculty-mentored cancer research
• Basic, clinical, translational, or community-based research projects
• Seminars focused on cancer health research
• Scientific writing and research presentation training
• Professional and career development activities

By the end of the program, each student will have completed work on a hypothesis-driven cancer research project and developed a research paper based on their findings. Students may also have opportunities to present their research at regional or national scientific conferences.

Program Leadership

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ali Andalibi
Program Manager: Jacob De La Torre
IABR Center: Center for Cancer Innovation and Translation

Program Funding

UCRTP is supported by the American Cancer Society Cancer Research Internship Program through award CRT INTR-25-1492633-01-INTR.

The program was previously funded by the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute through awards U54CA143931 and U54CA143930.