Most families researching a Harvard-affiliated research opportunity expect a hefty price tag.
The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center CURE program runs the other direction: rather than charging students to participate, it pays them a summer stipend to conduct cancer research alongside working scientists. That distinction shapes almost everything else about the program, from who can apply to what a typical week looks like.
CURE, short for Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences, is a paid summer research internship for high school and undergraduate students who reside in or attend school in Massachusetts. It provides a structured way for a Massachusetts sophomore, junior, or senior to spend a summer within the DF/HCC cancer research community rather than reading about research from the outside.
This guide covers what CURE interns actually do, who is eligible, how competitive admission really is, what the program costs, and whether it is worth the application effort.
CURE stands for Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences. It is a student research training program of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), a consortium of seven Harvard-affiliated institutions:
These institutions form an inter-institutional cancer research network across the Boston area, including several local cancer research institutions, and CURE gives students a structured entry point into that network rather than a single lab’s internship program.
CURE runs under DF/HCC’s Initiative to Eliminate Cancer Disparities (IECD), launched in 2001 to address racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in cancer prevention, care, outcomes, and survivorship. Research training and workforce development form one part of that broader mission.
CURE interns conduct hands-on, mentored basic, nursing, clinical, or population science research with investigators across the DF/HCC research community, giving students the opportunity to conduct biomedical research and develop scientific knowledge rather than observing from the sidelines.
DF/HCC runs three related tracks under the CURE name, and the eligibility differences between them can be easy to miss. The table below breaks down who each track is actually for.
The rest of this guide focuses on the Summer-Only track, since it is the entry point most relevant to high school applicants. CURE-RAI is a college-only track for students at out-of-state research-active institutions, not a pathway for out-of-state high schoolers.
CURE Summer-Only interns spend the summer working in an active DF/HCC research environment, contributing to a real cancer research project rather than simply observing one. Each intern is assigned a research mentor and an advisor who provide research oversight and guidance. Alongside their research, interns attend scientific seminars, complete responsible conduct of research training, and participate in journal club discussions focused on reading and interpreting published scientific papers, according to DF/HCC. These activities help students acquire scientific knowledge while developing their understanding of research practice.
The program also builds in structured professional development. Interns participate in career networking activities, meet professionals working across scientific fields, get to know other participants through journal club social events and other organized activities, and close out the summer by writing a scientific abstract and presenting their research. YES for CURE participants take on considerably more over the full 2.5-year program.
Scholars use Individual Development Plans to track their progress and participate in the “Skills and Solutions” curriculum, which covers topics including molecular biology techniques, cancer biology and genetics, public health research, cancer epidemiology, and bioinformatics, helping students build relevant technical skills. The program also involves participants’ families and, in later years, has scholars design and deliver science activities for middle school students.
To apply to CURE Summer-Only, applicants must meet the following requirements, according to DF/HCC:
There is no published admissions formula or minimum GPA. DF/HCC says competitive applicants generally show a record of academic achievement, particularly in recent coursework, and an interest in science and research, particularly cancer research. Prior research experience is not required. The application includes a current transcript or report card, a résumé, and two letters of recommendation, with at least one letter coming from a science or mathematics teacher or professor.
DF/HCC does not publish an official acceptance rate for CURE Summer-Only. The program does describe the track as “highly competitive,” according to its own site.
There is no published admissions formula or minimum GPA. DF/HCC says competitive applicants generally show a record of academic achievement, particularly in recent coursework, and an interest in science and research. Prior research experience is not required. The application includes a current transcript or report card, a resume, and two letters of recommendation, with at least one letter coming from a science or mathematics teacher or professor.
One distinguishing feature of CURE is its structure across the seven DF/HCC member institutions rather than within a single lab or department. Students conduct research in working cancer research environments across the consortium, giving them access to cutting-edge cancer research mentorship from scientists while also receiving broader program support. For a wider look at how research opportunities for high schoolers compare on mentorship and oversight, our guide to choosing a summer research program walks through what to look for.
CURE’s connection to the Initiative to Eliminate Cancer Disparities also shapes the program’s broader mission. IECD works to reduce racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in cancer prevention, care, outcomes, and survivorship, while its student-training programs help develop the future cancer research workforce. CURE projects themselves can span basic, nursing, clinical, and population science and are not necessarily focused specifically on cancer disparities.
Institutional affiliation is only one part of the experience. The value of the summer also depends on how seriously a student engages with the research question, mentorship, scientific process, and opportunities available within the placement.
Applicants apply directly through DF/HCC’s online portal and must submit all required application components by the deadline.
DF/HCC’s deadlines shift slightly from year to year, so the windows below are based on previous cycles rather than a fixed calendar date.
There is no tuition. CURE is a paid internship: interns receive a weekly stipend, and DF/HCC says the amount is determined at the start of each program year based on funding sources that can vary from year to year.
The main practical cost for families is logistical rather than tuition-based. Summer-Only participants must be able to travel to Boston’s Longwood Medical Area five days per week, and housing is not provided. Students who live outside easy commuting distance of Boston should weigh that daily travel commitment carefully before applying.
A few concrete steps can help applicants address the criteria DF/HCC says it considers:
For eligible Massachusetts students interested in scientific research, CURE offers mentored cancer research, structured scientific and professional training, and a stipend without charging tuition.
The constraints are substantial. The Massachusetts residency or school-attendance requirement rules out most high school students nationally, and the full-time weekday summer commitment can be difficult for students who live far from Boston. YES for CURE requires an even larger commitment, with 2.5 years of programming that includes two summer research experiences and academic-year training. For students whose interests and schedules align with those requirements, CURE provides an opportunity to develop research skills through sustained work in an active cancer research environment.
CURE is designed for students who are genuinely curious about science and research and ready to engage seriously with cancer-related work, not simply students looking for a name to add to an application. The program’s structure, from its mentor pairings to its seminars and research training, is built around students doing real scientific work rather than watching it happen.
A strong application should communicate that interest clearly and honestly. Students should use their application to explain their research interests, academic goals, relevant coursework or experiences, and why CURE is a good fit for what they hope to learn.
Massachusetts students looking for alternatives to CURE, and out-of-state high school students who are not eligible for any CURE track, have several comparable paid, free, or tuition-based research options to consider. For a wider set of choices, our guides to medical internships for high school students and STEM programs for high school students in Massachusetts cover more options than fit below.
Yes. The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center CURE Summer-Only track is a full-time, paid cancer research internship for Massachusetts high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old. Interns receive a weekly stipend and work with DF/HCC research mentors on hands-on cancer research projects rather than simply shadowing or observing. Participants must be able to travel to Boston’s Longwood Medical Area five days per week during the summer.
DF/HCC describes the CURE Summer-Only track as “highly competitive,” though the program does not publish an official acceptance rate. Applicants should treat every part of the application, including the résumé, transcript, statement of interest, and letters of recommendation, as carrying real weight, since DF/HCC explicitly says all parts of the application are important and does not publish a minimum GPA or test-score cutoff.
Yes. CURE is run by the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, a consortium of seven Harvard-affiliated institutions including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts General Hospital. The Summer-Only track is open to eligible Massachusetts high school students, while the separate YES for CURE track extends into a 2.5-year commitment for students who enter as high school sophomores or juniors.
CURE Summer-Only lasts one summer, with placements running 7 to 11 weeks depending largely on student level and program schedule. YES for CURE is a 2.5-year commitment that includes two summers of mentored cancer research, along with academic-year scientific training, professional development, college-readiness programming, Individual Development Plans, family engagement, and leadership activities.
The Dana-Farber CURE program has no tuition or program fee. It is a paid internship, and interns receive a weekly stipend whose amount depends on that year’s funding, according to DF/HCC. The main cost for families is logistical: getting to and from Boston’s Longwood Medical Area on weekdays for the length of the program. Housing is not provided for ordinary Summer-Only participants.
If you’re interested in conducting the highest level of research for high school students, consider joining a Pioneer information session to learn more about the Pioneer Research Institute.
Based on a recent survey, 71 percent of Pioneer Research scholars’ acceptances were to the top 20 US colleges and universities. Additionally, our alumni report acceptances to highly-selective institutions at a rate five times higher than the school’s published acceptance rate.
If you are a 9th or 10th grader, we encourage you to also check out the Global Problem-Solving Institute. You’ll have the rare opportunity to take an interdisciplinary approach to complex world programs, while earning college credits from UNC-Chapel Hill.
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