1/3) MMC, VICC, and TSU: Partners in Eliminating Cancer Disparities

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PROJECT SUMMARY: OVERALL Cancer health disparities based on factors such as race and ethnicity are the result of a combination of socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and biological factors. These disparities impact cancer incidence, prevalence, mortality, survivorship, financial burden, and screening rates. The long-standing and mature Meharry Medical College (MMC), Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), Tennessee State University (TSU) Cancer Partnership (MVTCP), continues to provide and expand upon an exceptional cancer research and training environment to support the efforts of diverse investigators in addressing disparities. These efforts span across multiple disciplines to study the determinants of cancer health disparities at an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center (VICC) along with enhancing research infrastructure, capacity-building, and impact at two minority- serving institutions (MMC and TSU). Collectively, over the past twenty years of partnership, these collaborative efforts provide a robust infrastructure to address and overcome cancer disparities while expanding research opportunities, recruitment and training. Our Triad has benefited from sustained and strong collaborative interactions between the three partner institutions, resulting in robust community and educational outcomes. Moreover, the geographical placement of this Triad in Tennessee, a region with some of the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States, also provides a unique opportunity for our Partnership to positively impact outcomes for cancer patients in this geographical region. This region continues to have significant cancer health disparities in lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. In order to meet our ultimate goals of overcoming cancer disparities while simultaneously strengthening research impact, the overall objectives of this competing renewal application are to: 1) increase the participation in traditional, investigator- initiated cancer research projects awarded to MMC and TSU faculty with collaborative guidance by senior VICC faculty; 2) increase the number of investigator-initiated awards to VICC junior faculty that address cancer disparities; 3) recruit, train and retain early-stage investigators to become independent leaders in cancer health disparities and cancer research and training; 4) expand MVTCP participation in national oncology treatment and interventional trials; 5) strengthen the physical and intellectual infrastructure for research at MMC and TSU; 6) facilitate partnerships between community organizations and academic researchers, leading to hypothesis- driven research projects that include the involvement of a community health educator; 7) increase the number of MMC and TSU trainees engaged in cancer research; and 8) increase awareness of cancer research opportunities and careers for minority high school, undergraduate, graduate and medical students through the Pathway to Discovery program.