The Partnership in Cancer Research (PCAR) summer program gives medical students hands-on experience alongside UAMS faculty and will expand its national reach with renewed NCI support.
Each summer, a group of rising second-year medical students steps into laboratories, clinics, and research spaces across UAMS. For 10 weeks, they work alongside UAMS faculty exploring the full spectrum of cancer research — from basic laboratory science to clinical care.
These faculty-led research experiences are made possible through the Partnership in Cancer Research (PCAR), a summer training program that recently received a $794,599 renewal from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Few people have watched the program grow more closely than Samantha Kendrick, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the principal investigator on the renewed NCI R25 training grant. An accomplished cancer researcher herself and a member of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s Cancer Biology Program, Kendrick assumed leadership of the program following the retirement of founding director Thomas Kelly, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Pathology.
“As a cancer researcher, it’s a privilege to lead this successful training program where early, hands-on research experiences prepare the next generation of physician-scientists,” Kendrick said. “We’re committed to developing exceptional trainees who will drive discoveries and address the nation’s most pressing challenges in cancer research.”
Now in its sixth year, PCAR selects up to 15 medical students each summer for the paid, full-time internship. While most students come from UAMS, the program also welcomes students from other Arkansas medical schools. With the renewed funding, the program will expand nationally by offering one to two positions each year to highly competitive medical students from across the country.
“I’m excited about this opportunity to extend the program’s national reach, broaden our impact on training future cancer researchers, and showcase the transformative cancer research being carried out by UAMS faculty,” Kendrick said.
The expanded program will continue to provide the immersive, faculty-mentored experience that has defined PCAR since its inception. Students are paired with one of 48 UAMS faculty engaged in active cancer research, including physician and basic scientists conducting NCI–funded research. Beyond individualized research experiences, students also participate in weekly lectures exploring the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cancer, along with structured clinical experiences that include medical simulations and observation in palliative care settings.
The renewed program also introduces a new artificial intelligence-driven in silico drug discovery module. Working in teams, students evaluate FDA-approved drugs and natural products for their potential to interact with cancer-related protein targets. The addition of AI-driven drug discovery distinguishes the program, exposing students to emerging technologies that are becoming increasingly important in scientific research.
Kendrick credits the program’s success to the faculty mentors who invest their time and expertise in students each summer, as well as to Program Coordinator Diane McKinstry, whose behind-the-scenes work keeps the program running smoothly.
The relationships students build with UAMS faculty often extend well beyond the summer, providing guidance as they continue medical school.
That has been the case for Jed Johnson, a third-year medical student who participated in PCAR last summer.
“PCAR connected me with an amazing mentor, Dr. Grover Miller,” Johnson said. “His work ethic is truly admirable, and his continual encouragement has pushed me to become a better critical thinker and researcher. I’m still working with Dr. Miller, and we’re currently finalizing a manuscript and a book chapter based on the research we began during the program.”
As PCAR begins its next five years, the program remains focused on giving medical students an early foundation in cancer research while inspiring future physician-scientists who can bridge scientific discovery and patient care throughout their careers.
2026 PCAR Mentors
| Yong-Moon (Mark) Park M.D., Ph.D.; Marcelo Bigarella, M.D.; Ping-Ching Hsu, Ph.D.; Kimberly Stephens, Ph.D.; Behjatolah Karbassi, Ph.D.; Alan Tackett, Ph.D.; Sean Taverna, Ph.D.; Amit Tiwari, Ph.D.; Lyle Burdine, M.D., Ph.D.; Nathan Avaritt, Ph.D.; Emre Vural, M.D.; Ruud Dings, Ph.D.; Fenghuang Zhan, Ph.D.; Mayumi Nakagawa, M.D., Ph.D. |