Health Disparities
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has targeted the reduction of cancer-related
health disparities as an important challenge. The goal is to understand
the causes of health disparities in cancer and develop effective interventions
to reduce or eliminate them.
The Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP)
focuses on support of research in two main health disparities areas:
- the effect of racial/ethnic differences alone or in combination with
lifestyle, genetic, and other factors on cancer incidence and mortality;
and
- the basis for regional variations in cancer incidence and mortality.
Ongoing, large, investigator-initiated cohort studies have and will continue
to be critical to understanding the determinants of racial/ethnic disparities
in cancer incidence and mortality. These studies involve collection of
extensive health information and biological specimens from thousands to
tens-of-thousands of persons from different race and ethnic groups who
are then followed over time to determine cancer occurrence or death from
cancer.
Another commonly used approach is case-control studies where persons
with cancer and persons without cancer are compared in terms of genetic,
lifestyle, and other factors. Comparisons within these case-control studies
by ethnic group can provide key insights into disparities in cancer risk.
EGRP is supporting many cohort and case-control studies.
Regional studies include research that compares populations with respect
to the distribution of risk factors and cancer risk, and studies or tools,
such as the Geographic Information
System for Breast Cancer Studies on Long Island (LI GIS), that focus
on reasons for high cancer risk in a particular geographic area.
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