Karen Hubbard, Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at The Graduate Center and City College, has received funding to establish a Cancer Center Partnership between CCNY and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). This center will promote diversity in cancer research, scientific training, and community action in order to better understand mechanisms of disease, eliminate disparities in care, and improve public health. The Partnership has received a total of $3.8M over five years and is supported by a National Cancer Institute award of the National Institutes of Health. The award is a planning grant for collaborative research and training. The partnership will provide funding for small pilot research projects, infrastructure and faculty. It is anticipated that plans set in motion will lead to the submission of a proposal for a full cancer center grant. During the first year, the partnership is supporting five pilot studies. Each pilot combines the various strengths of CCNY and MSKCC to generate independently supported collaborative research. The areas of research include basic sciences, clinical, population, and ethical studies. The partnership also facilitates opportunities for student research and training. All of these endeavors are designed to foster on-going collaboration between CCNY and MSKCC.