The Institute of Medicine's (IOM) report on the important issue of the unequal burden of cancer for ethnic minorities and the underserved presents a series of useful findings and recommendations for the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

While progress has been made in this area, there is much that is still unknown and much more that can be done. The Unequal Burden of Cancer, An Assessment of NIH Research and Programs for Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved was written by the IOM Committee on Cancer Research Among Minorities and the Medically Underserved.

"NCI will look very carefully at all of the recommendations in the report and discuss them and their implementation with NCI's advisory bodies," said Richard D. Klausner, M.D., NCI director.

The IOM committee was charged in 1998 with reviewing the status of cancer research relative to ethnic minority and medically underserved populations at the various institutes, centers, and divisions of NIH to evaluate the relative share of resources allocated to cancer in minorities. This included a review of NIH's ability to prioritize its cancer research agenda for ethnic minorities and medically underserved groups and the role of minority scientists in decision making on research priorities.

The IOM committee also examined how well research results are communicated and applied to cancer prevention and treatment programs for ethnic minority and medically underserved populations, the adequacy of understanding of survivorship issues that uniquely affect minority and underserved communities, and the adequacy of NIH procedures for equitable recruitment and retention of minorities in clinical trials.

As the report points out, NCI has been active in the past few years in addressing some of the issues raised in the report. NCI is committed to better addressing its responsibilities to reducing the unequal burden of cancer.

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