The Developmental Core (DC) contributes to SoCa’s mission to reduce cancer health inequities in areas of persistent poverty in the New York City (NYC) Region by helping early career investigators, especially from groups underrepresented in the biomedical workforce (URiBW), develop new pilot research projects and preliminary data necessary for future extramural funding, and successfully compete for K and R-level grant mechanisms.

The DC supports our mission to reduce cancer health inequities in areas of persistent poverty through the following specific aims:

Ø  Aim 1: Establish a SoCa pilot project program that will support up to 25 cancer health equity pilot projects (5 per year).

Ø  Aim 2: Enhance collaboration and synergy to develop new pilot project ideas by coordinating a SoCa Hub, which will provide centralized resources for early career investigators to participate in existing cancer equity studies.

Ø  Aim 3: Oversee the Mock Study Section program, that will engage investigators from participating institutions with opportunities to undergo an NIH-level review process for K or R-level grant submissions and provide the opportunity to incorporate feedback for future NIH submissions.    

  • Dr. Marlene Camacho-Rivera, ScD

    Dr. Camacho-Rivera is Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Assistant Professor of Community Health Sciences, SUNY Downstate School of Public Health. A social and chronic epidemiologist by training, Dr. Camacho-Rivera’s research focuses on three main themes:

    1. Social and structural determinants of chronic disease disparities (e.g. cancer, pulmonary, and cardiometabolic conditions) among urban racial and ethnic minority communities.

    2. Exploring patterns and determinants of within-group heterogeneity in chronic disease outcomes among Latinos.

    3. Design, implementation, and evaluation of multilevel and community-engaged interventions to reduce chronic disease inequities among urban minority communities.

    Dr. Camacho-Rivera is MPI with Drs. Boutin-Foster and Lambert on the NIMHD funded Clinical Research Scholars Training (CREST) R25 program, focused on training clinician scientists to conduct transformative health equity research. As part of the HRSA funded Downstate Center of Excellence for Diversity and Equity (PI Boutin-Foster), she oversees PROGRESS, a multi-tiered mentoring and social capital building program for first-gen students and faculty at Downstate. Dr. Camacho-Rivera is also co-I on the endowment, Translational Program Of health disparities Research Training (TRANSPORT II), where she oversees public health research training for community partners and graduate students. Dr. Camacho received her BS in Biology and Society from Cornell University, her MPH in Health Policy and Management from Tufts University, and her doctoral and master degrees in Social Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.

  • Dr. Carlin Boutin-Foster, MD

    Dr. Carla Boutin-Foster is the Associate Dean for the Office of Diversity Education and Research and leads the Office for Institutional Equity at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. As a trained clinical epidemiologist, internist, and health disparities researcher, her research focuses on elucidating mechanisms by which psychosocial determinants such as social support, stress, and depressive symptoms influence health behaviors and health outcomes in patients with cardiometabolic conditions. Mentorship and research development of trainees from groups that are underrepresented in biomedical science have been a central part of Dr. Boutin-Foster’s academic career. Dr. Boutin-Foster is an MPI on the endowment, Translational Program Of health disparities Research Training (TRANSPORT II), an MPI on the NIMHD funded R25 program Clinical Research Scholars Training Program and PI of HRSA Center of Excellence in Diversity in Medical Education grant. Dr. Boutin-Foster has over 25 years of experience conducting patient-oriented research and brings a breadth of experience in conducting independently funded health disparities research, in securing and managing large NIH grants, and in leading educational research programs. Dr. Boutin-Foster teaches medical students, mentors junior faculty, and coordinates several pathway programs for students from high school to undergraduate school. She co-directs the post-baccalaureate program Bridges to Medicine at Downstate. Dr. Boutin-Foster obtained her BA from New York University, her Medical Degree from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, and her Masters in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research from Weill Cornell Graduate School.

  • Dr. Marcus Lambert, PhD

    Dr. Marcus Lambert is the Associate Vice President of Research Strategy and Operations at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. In this role, Dr. Lambert oversees efforts to expand the university's extramural research portfolio in areas of health equity and clinical research. Dr. Lambert also co-leads multiple research training programs at Downstate, including TRANSPORT, a $10 million endowment grant with a focus on recruiting and training underrepresented scientists in health disparities research. Dr. Lambert received his Ph.D. in biomedical science from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and his B.S. from Howard University. He also holds an M.S. in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research from Weill Cornell Graduate School.