Summer cancer research training at varying education levels offers opportunities for cross-tiered collaboration. This pilot program aimed to bridge cancer education gaps by pairing undergraduate interns in the Nathan Schnaper Internship Program (NSIP) with middle school (MS) teachers from the CATALYST program at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC). These teams conducted mentored cancer research and co-developed educational materials adaptable for use by UMB CURE middle school scholars, college students, professional audiences, and the West Baltimore community. Over ten weeks, trainee pairs conducted research supervised by faculty mentors and laboratory preceptors that focused on an innate immune effector, oligoadenylate synthetase-1 (OAS1), that exhibits dual antiviral and tumor suppressor functions. The joint project explored the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human OAS1 gene on antiviral activity and have potential implications for cancer survival outcomes. Research findings and techniques were translated into educational modules to broaden cancer knowledge and awareness of cancer-related careers across diverse audiences. Inter-programmatic partnering improved both research productivity and the spread of cancer education beyond what either program could achieve independently. Participants gained hands-on training in team science, mentorship, and scientific communication, which are essential skills for careers in biomedical research and education. Pre/post survey data showed that the partnership enhanced understanding of cancer biology and improved participants’ ability to communicate science across varying knowledge levels. The second year of the program will focus on deploying and evaluating these modules in MS and community settings. Our pilot program illustrates the value of inter-programmatic collaboration in enriching participant experiences and increasing the reach and impact of cancer education. Ongoing tracking and refinement will guide subsequent cohorts and provide a scalable model for inter-institutional partnership in cancer education. This research was supported in part by the Nathan Schnaper Internship Program (NSIP), University of Maryland School of Medicine Office of Student Research.