Amber Keith, a doctoral student at the University of California, Riverside, has been awarded a predoctoral fellowship from the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine (CIAPM). The fellowship will provide $150,000 over two and a half years to support her research on health disparities in pancreatic cancer.
The CIAPM seeks to improve the health and well-being of Californians by accelerating the development of innovative technologies and personalized approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment while fostering collaborations across sectors.
Keith’s research focuses on understanding and addressing disparities in pancreatic cancer outcomes among underserved populations. She said her work is driven by scientific interest and personal experiences that have strengthened her commitment to improving outcomes for patients and families affected by the disease.
The fellowship will take advantage of new data resources, such as the UC data warehouse, to generate new insights into pancreatic cancer disparities across California populations. These resources help identify factors contributing to unequal outcomes and inform more effective, equitable interventions.
In addition to supporting her research, the CIAPM fellowship represents a notable accomplishment for UCR. Keith’s selection for a CIAPM predoctoral fellowship aligns with the medical school’s mission to improve health outcomes for all Californians.
“Amber’s fellowship reflects the promise of innovative, collaborative research to address some of California’s most pressing health challenges,” said Meera Nair, a professor of biomedical sciences in the UCR School of Medicine and Keith’s advisor. “Her work will help advance our understanding of pancreatic cancer disparities while contributing to more equitable healthcare solutions.”
Keith’s work has benefited from support through the City of Hope–UCR U54 Partnership, a collaboration dedicated to expanding cancer research and training opportunities. Her project is also supported by the advocacy organization Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.