Translational Research Center in Lung Cancer Disparities (TRACER)

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OVERALL: PROJECT SUMMARY Lung cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among racial/ethnic minorities and individuals from other medically underserved groups. Racial minorities and individuals from other medically underserved groups have greater exposure to socioeconomic, financial, and other types of stressors (e.g., racial discrimination, structural stress because of low social capital and neighborhood violence) that can increase their risk for smoking and make it more difficult to quit. Chronic exposure to stress can trigger and disrupt biological pathways that are important to smoking behaviors and increase risk for lung cancer and other diseases. Therefore, the overarching goal and vision for the Translational Research Center in Lung Cancer Disparities (TRACER) is to address racial disparities in lung cancer morbidity and mortality by developing more precise strategies for lung cancer prevention and early detection. To accomplish this, TRACER will (1) discover cancer- driving biological mechanisms leading to racial disparities in lung cancer morbidity and mortality and analyze these mechanisms within the context of individual, social, and environmental determinants of health; (2) translate research findings into novel prevention, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions; (3) develop an integrated inter- institutional partnership that promotes transdisciplinary research and leverages the distinct capabilities at each partner site to successfully obtain a P50 Cancer Disparities SPORE; and (4) promote bi-directional communications between AA/Black communities and investigators regarding research priorities, the development of culturally appropriate strategies for community engagement and participation in research, and the dissemination of education and research outcomes. The translational research and related training, patient and community engagement, and biospecimen collection activities in TRACER will focus explicitly on addressing racial disparities in lung cancer morbidity and mortality in order to fulfill a critical need to develop precision strategies for lung cancer prevention and early detection.