CAREER ENHANCEMENT CORE ABSTRACT As part of a multifaceted approach to addressing disparities in cancer care, we must ensure that our researchers are representative of the populations we serve. Because the population prevalence in Persistent Poverty (PP) areas are from marginalized groups, our goal is to include investigators who are from demographic groups that are traditionally underrepresented in medicine, such as persons who are Black/ African American, Hispanic/Latinx, from a low-income background, and/or identified as having a disability. The goal of the Career Enhancement Core (CEC) is tailored to develop research capacity among early-stage, pre- and post-doctoral researchers. As a career resource, guidance, and training hub of the proposed Center for Cancer Control in Persistent Poverty Areas (C3P2), we will provide investigators with the resources and experience to ready themselves for a competitive, independent career in cancer research, including critical technical and scientific training, training in essential skills for scientific research, connections to experts for collaboration and networking, and training in writing competitive grant applications to foster new projects. We will also endeavor to provide a mechanism to harness the strengths of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)'s Heersink School of Medicine, the UAB O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center by offering opportunities for collaboration in team science across the cancer continuum. The C3P2 CEC will be achieved by: 1) providing continuing education opportunities, including workshops, skills enhancement courses, and seminars to assist early career investigators in career development in cancer research among PP populations; 2) developing and sustaining participation of a diverse cadre of early-career investigators in the activities of the C3P2, including research and pilot projects and the larger Persistent Poverty Initiative Network (PPIN); and 3) providing mentoring and career planning assistance to early-career investigators. Our previous experience and successful network of mentoring and training programs make UAB uniquely situated to provide the expertise necessary to equip early-stage investigators with the academic and experiential skills needed to achieve their career goals, while developing personal relationships with participants to maintain their interest and investment.