Driven to Discover State Fair Grants

The MCC Driven to Discover (D2D) grants are designed to support new research ideas that aim to assess or improve cancer treatment and prevention by utilizing the population attending the Minnesota State Fair. 

Studies funded through this mechanism enroll and collect data from subjects at the Driven to Discover Research Facility at the Minnesota State Fair. The University of Minnesota faculty who are MCC members are invited to take advantage of this unique opportunity to quickly and efficiently recruit research participants for on-site human-subjects research at the Minnesota State Fair. 

Research Opportunity Information and Application

Eligibility:

  • PI must be an MCC member holding U of M faculty appointment
  • Research Focus must have a “cancer or cancer-related theme” and address one of the MCC Scientific Priorities for Growth

Grant Program Contacts:

Information about D2D: The Driven to Discover Research Facility is available at: Driven to Discover.

Application, requirements, eligibility:
Katie Thomas
Research Development Coordinator
612-624-8679
mccgrant@umn.edu

The Driven to Discover Research Facility and Research Opportunity space application:
d2d@umn.edu

Grantees

2022

The role of the nasal microbiome in the outcome of human respiratory viral infections
Beth Thielen, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School

Exploring the Value of High Yield Video Based Education in Prostate Cancer Screening
Christopher Warlick, MD, PhD, Department of Urology, Medical School

Michael Borofsky, MD, Department of Urology, Medical School

2021

Knowledge and Awareness of Uterine Cancer Among Minnesota State Fair Attendees
Carrie Terrell, MD, Department of Obstetrics, Medical School

2019
The Mystery of Pallative Care
Deanna Teoh,MD, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Medical School 
Clark C, Chen, MD, Neurosurgery, Medical School 
 
What Do You Know About Risks for Cancer? 
Rhonda Jones-Webb, PhD, Division of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health
Traci Toomey, PhD, MPH, Division of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health  

Swishin' and Swabbin' for Science 
Silvia Balbo, PhD, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health 
2018
D2D Survey of Parent/Guardian and Adolescent Roles in HPV Vaccination Decisions
Deanna Teoh, MD, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, Medical School 
 
Collection of Oral Samples to Investigate the Effects of Environmental Exposures
Silvia Balbo, PhD, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health
2017

The Impact of Social Media Messaging on Young Adult HPV Vaccination Beliefs
Deanna Teoh, MD, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, Medical School

Non-Invasive Biomonitoring of Multi-class Exposures to Carcinogens in Hair using Liquid Chromatography/High Resolution Accurate Mass Spectrometry
Robert Turesky, PhD, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy

2016

Cancer & U: What Do You Know About this Deadly Disease?
Hee Yun Lee, PhD, School of Social Work, College of Education and Human Development
Jennifer Ball, PhD, School of Journalism, College of Liberal Arts

Genetics Hide and Seek
Heather Zierhut, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, College of Biological Sciences

2015

Sunscreen Dispensers at the Fair
Megan Wood, Medical School
Maria Hordinsky, MD, Department of Dermatology, Medical School

POP QUIZ: Enlighten Your Mind and Save A Life
Amber Retzlaff, Medical School
Kathryn Dusenbery, MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School

2014

Familial Cancer Testing Study (FACTS!)
Bharat Thyagarajan, MD, PhD, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Medical School

Colon Cancer. iPrevent. iTreat. iBeat.
Charles Rogers, PhD, MPH, MS, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Medical School