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Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP)

About

The Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP) is a collaboration between Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona’s Cancer Center and Native American Research and Training Center.  Funding comes from the National Cancer Institute.  The mission of the NACP is to alleviate the unequal burden of cancer among Native Americans of the Southwest through research, training, and community outreach programs in collaboration with the communities they serve.

Background

NACP is a Comprehensive Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnership between Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona’s Cancer Center, and Native American Research and Training Center; all programs and projects are jointly developed and implemented at the two institutions.  Programs are designed to facilitate the entry of Native Americans into biomedical research and healthcare professions while engaging communities in research and training relevant to their needs.  Research projects include laboratory, field-based, and community-based participatory research.  All projects involving communities originate in those communities and are developed and implemented in partnership with NACP students and faculty.  The home page for NACP can be found here.

NACP Summer research internships for University of Arizona undergraduate students are offered in conjunction with the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP).  Participants work 35 hours per week for 12 weeks in the summer. NACP begins with a full-day UBRP Orientation on Monday, May 17, 2027. 

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Benefits of participating in NACP

• Learn more about health disparities among Native Peoples
• Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Explore career options
• Learn to work in a team and to make presentations
• Become part of a supportive peer network
• Make contacts that are useful in progressing through school and into a career

Eligibility 

• U of A undergraduate students who are 

  • American Indian or Alaska Natives

    or

  • Interested in exploring a career related to reducing cancer health disparities among Native populations
• American citizens or permanent residents of the US

Application Process

NACP Applicants will use the UBRP Application to apply for NACP

Download a UBRP Application Worksheet and follow the directions on the worksheet to submit your final application online via Qualtrics between 9:00AM on December 15, 2026 and 11:59PM on February 1, 2027 Arizona Time (see directions on the worksheet).  All applications submitted during this timeframe will be considered equally; late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

To apply for NACP, a letter of recommendation from a professor, researcher, supervisor, mentor, advisor, or other professional contact is required. Your letter of recommendation must be emailed directly from the letter writer to the UBRP Assistant Director, Quinn Reilly, at qreilly@arizona.edu by 11:59PM on February 1, 2027 to be included with your application for consideration.

The program begins with a full-day UBRP orientation on Monday, May 17, 2027.  NACP participants will also be expected to attend the Annual UBRP Ethics Retreat that will take place June 10 - 11, 2027.

All complete and timely NACP applications will also be entered into the UBRP application pool. Applicants will be asked if they would like to be considered other UBRP Research Programs that they are eligible for (check eligibility here). Consideration for these other programs may require answers to supplemental questions and/or additional steps. NACP Applicants are may also be eligible for EHS-RISE, refer to their website for more information.

Applicants will be notified of the status of their applications by mid-March, 2027. 

Given the current landscape of research funding, we strongly encourage all applicants to also apply to as many of our other UBRP Research Programs as they can (check eligibility here), as well as any other research program or funding opportunity for which you are eligible.  

Questions?