Morgan Jones, MD, assistant professor and the newest faculty member with the division of surgical oncology, was recently named a DREAM Scholar at the University of Kentucky (UK). As such, she will receive support for her long range plans to conduct an in-depth study of racial disparities in breast cancer treatment outcomes.
The Disparities Research Equalizing Access for Minorities (DREAM) Scholars program is a collaboration of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), the UK College of Nursing, and the Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET).
In addition to providing research support and training to under-represented minority pre-docs, post-docs, and assistant professors, the DREAM program also provides pilot funding to assist with the development of an advanced research endeavor.
Dr. Jones’ DREAM Scholar mentors include Pamela Hull, PhD, William Stamps Farish Endowed Chair in Cancer Research; Lovoria Williams, PhD, Director of the Special Populations Research Core in the CCTS; and Heidi Weiss PhD, Director, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics SRF with the Markey Cancer Center Cancer Research Priority Initiative.
Funding is provided by the generous support of the Markey Cancer Center at UK.
In the proposal that Dr. Jones submitted for consideration to the program, she outlined several issues of racial disparity in current breast cancer research, from screenings and diagnoses to treatments and mortality.
“I am planning a research career in dissemination and implementation science (D&IS) with a focus in racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes. Specifically, I have interest in equitable clinical trial accrual practices, as well as racial/ethnic differences in breast tumor immunology/genomics. By collaborating with the expert researchers here at UK, I am confident that as an institution we can improve the outcomes for our patients,” Dr. Jones writes.