Leaders from our regional academic partners, including six of Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), support the work of the MHERC to develop health disparities research training programs for students and faculty who demonstrate a commitment to working with underrepresented or disadvantaged populations. The partnerships, funded by the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), help increase the pipeline of talented and culturally-sensitive investigators in the field of health disparities research.

The regional academic partners sponsor several training programs, including the Health Disparities Research Education Program (HDREP), the Summer Cancer Research Education Program (SCREP), and in past years, the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP).