NCI Awards Grants to Support Radiation Oncology Research in Populations with Cancer-Related Health Disparities
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has awarded over $2.5 million in first-year funding to two institutions as part its new grant program, the "Cooperative Planning Grant for Cancer Disparities Research Partnerships" (CDRP). The program, with a total budget of $27 million over five years, provides support and resources for radiation oncology clinical research in institutions that traditionally have not been involved in NCI-sponsored research, but who care for a disproportionate number of medically underserved, low income, ethnic and minority populations. The CDRP is part of NCI's strong commitment to reducing cancer-related health disparities among various communities throughout the country.
Rapid City Regional Hospital, in South Dakota, and Mercy Health Center, in Laredo, Texas, are the first two recipients of grant awards from the CDRP. Rapid City Regional Hospital, which serves a predominantly Native American population, will receive $1,404,486 and Mercy Health Center, which serves a predominantly Hispanic/Latino population, will receive $1,120,013 for the first-year funding of the five-year projects. NCI anticipates making four additional awards to other institutions in 2003.
"The CDRP," said Frank Govern, Ph.D., deputy director of the Radiation Oncology Sciences Program at NCI, "gives radiation oncologists a unique opportunity to explore ways to reduce the significant negative consequences of cancer-related health disparities by targeting those populations who would not otherwise have access to radiation oncology research or be able to benefit from its progress."
"This program is attempting to bring new treatments for cancer closer to underserved communities," said Harold P. Freeman, M.D., director of the NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. "We're hopeful that it will link underserved patients to appropriate cancer care."
Cancer centers and hospitals that provide radiation oncology services to medically underserved populations often are not linked to other cancer research resources. A major component of the CDRP program is the development and maintenance of mentor partnerships between institutions who are new to radiation oncology clinical trials research and experienced institutions who are actively involved in NCI-sponsored cancer research. The University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, in Madison, and the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, in Rochester, Minn., will serve as mentor partners for the Rapid City Regional Hospital. The San Antonio Cancer Institute in San Antonio, Texas, and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston, will serve as mentor partners for the Mercy Health Center.
The grants also support the establishment of telemedicine and teleconferencing systems between institutions and partners - including patient exam cameras and remote-controlled microscope capability to examine biopsy specimens - which allow sites to examine and discuss a case simultaneously. Telemedicine equipment placed within communities, such as on Native American reservations, will also aid in access to care.
"We are proud that Rapid City Regional Hospital has been selected as a recipient of this grant," said Adil Ameer, president and CEO of the hospital. "This will allow us to further improve the care available to the many Native Americans we serve."
According to Yadvindera Bains, M.D., director of radiation oncology at the A.R. Sanchez Cancer Center at Mercy Health Center and the only board-certified radiation oncologist in Laredo, Texas, "This grant has given us the opportunity to look forward, into our predominantly Hispanic community's future, with hopes of alleviating negative outcomes of cancer patients. Not only does Mercy Health Center want to provide health care to those that are sick, but we want to find ways to recognize and prevent the incidence of cancer in our Hispanic community, as well."
The CDRP was created by Govern and C. Norman Coleman, M.D., director of the Radiation Oncology Sciences Program at NCI, based on their experience in community outreach in Massachusetts. The program is designed both to empower the communities to develop solutions and to bring the grantees and NCI together to share in one another's experience.
Freeman and other researchers in the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities will be working closely with CDRP. The Center pioneered the Patient Navigator Program, which it has funded for both Rapid City Regional Hospital and Mercy Health Center. A Cancer Patient Navigator is a trained, culturally competent individual who assists the cancer patient facing a bewildering and complex program of medical care. Programs vary according to the needs of each community, but are designed specifically to provide individualized education about cancer, the need for treatment, and the types of tests and medical services required to treat the disease. In addition, the Patient Navigator coordinates and tracks appointments for medical tests, treatments, and other follow-up medical appointments.
Key requirements for applicants to the CDRP program are: necessary facilities to provide radiation oncology services; one or more board-certified radiation oncologists; one or more full-time Ph.D. or M.S. physicists; services provided to a target population at a rate greater than the state population average; and higher-than-average cancer rates among the identified population in the hospital's service area.
For more information about the Cooperative Planning Grant for Cancer Disparities Research Partnerships, please visit http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-03-018.html and http://www3.cancer.gov/rrp/supguide.shtml.