A cure is a substance or procedure that resolves a medical condition. It may be a medication, a surgical operation, or even a lifestyle change that alleviates symptoms and allows for healing. A cure can also be a mental state, an emotional shift, or even a philosophical viewpoint that relieves suffering or achieves a sense of wholeness. The word cure derives from the Latin noun cura, which means care or concern. The related noun curate means “one who takes care of souls.” It passed into English as curare in the medieval period with the spiritual meanings of care and healing. The medical sense of the word eventually replaced it in the seventeenth century.
During the early days of cancer immunotherapy, clinicians were hesitant to use the term “cure.” They were unsure how often they could tell patients that they are cured. A recent study interviewed oncology clinicians about their attitudes towards the word, as well as their hesitancy when determining whether their patients were “cured.” It was determined that, in the case of seminoma or large cell lymphoma, most clinicians were comfortable telling their patients that they are cured if the risk of recurrence is 5% or less and there are no comorbidities or treatment-related toxicity.
A growing body of research demonstrates that students engage in CUREs to develop advanced learning skills, increase interest in their academic fields, bolster graduate school preparations, expand their academic portfolio, and connect with faculty mentors (24). While most studies of student outcomes from CUREs focus on underrepresented minority (URM) student populations, evidence is emerging that all students experience benefits, including greater persistence in science (30), increased self-efficacy (31) and project ownership (32). Moreover, the time required to implement a CURE can be a significant barrier for pedagogical innovation; however, some approaches have shown success in facilitating the development of a CURE by supporting the faculty member as they acquire expertise (21).
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