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Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP)

The Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP), initiated in 2009, is a national program designed to enhance capacity in the areas of disparities research; recruitment and career/professional development of underrepresented investigators, trainees, and students; communication and dissemination; and evaluation, as part of building region-based “hubs” for the support and efficient management of cancer health disparities (CHD) research, training, and outreach.

The regional GMaP hubs are unique in that each brings together CHD investigators, underrepresented trainees and students, community health educators, and community members to work together to:

  • Share information, resources, and tools;
  • Enhance access to underrepresented investigators, trainees/students and foster career development linkages; and
  • Strengthen region-based community education and outreach efforts that contribute to achieving GMaP goals.

Access and engagement of underserved communities will be facilitated by close linkage of the GMaP hubs with Community Health Educators (CHEs), who are currently part of the NCI/CRCHD supported National Outreach Network (NON).

Goals and Objectives

The goals of the GMaP initiative are to contribute to the science of CHD and promote the development of the next generation of competitive, underrepresented cancer and CHD investigators.

Consistent with these goals, GMaP seeks to achieve the following objectives:

  • Create opportunities for scientific exchange, cooperation, and collaboration among cancer and CHD researchers.
  • Attract underrepresented students, trainees, scholars, and investigators to the biomedical cancer enterprise. 
  • Enhance access of underrepresented students, trainees, and scholars to career development and mentoring opportunities.
  • Increase cancer information dissemination and best practice sharing among researchers, trainees, and scholars.
  • Build strong relationships with NON CHEs.

Quick Facts

  • Seven administrative supplements were awarded to six regions in FY2015 to support existing efforts aimed at the efficient management of CHD research, diversity training, and community education and outreach.
  • The GMaP regions bring together researchers, trainees and students, new and early-stage investigators, and community members so they can collectively identify and prioritize region-specific cancer research, training, education and outreach, and faculty development issues.
  • GMaP leverages the strengths of its people, programs, and resources to provide greater access to cancer information in health disparity communities and to increase research participation and tissue collection in disparate populations.

GMaP Regions

Map of Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Programs (GMaP)

Region 1 North

The Region 1 North hub is based at the Markey Cancer Center in Lexington, Kentucky. This region serves Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. Visit the Region 1 North website to learn more.

Role Name
Principal Investigator B. Mark Evers, University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center
Project Director Mark Dignan, University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center
Regional Coordinating Director

Erin Oakley, University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center

Region 1 South

The Region 1 South hub is based at the Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Region 1 South serves North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Visit the Region 1 South website to learn more.

Role Name
Principal Investigator H. Shelton Earp, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Project Director Stephanie Wheeler, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Regional Coordinating Director

Anissa I. Vines, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Region 2

Region 2’s hub and regional leadership listed below are based at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa, Florida. Region 2 serves Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Puerto Rico. Visit the Region 2 website to learn more.

Role Name
Principal Investigator John L. Cleveland, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Project Directors

Cathy D. Meade, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Clement K. Gwede, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Regional Coordinating Directors

Z’Kera Sims, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Vivekka Suppiah, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Region 3

The Region 3 hub and regional leadership listed below are based at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Region 3 serves Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Visit the Region 3 website to learn more.

Role Name
Principal Investigator Cheryl L. Willman, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center
Project Directors

Andrew Sussman, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center

Shiraz Mishra, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center
Regional Coordinating Director

Miria Kano, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center

Region 4

The Region 4 hub, called the Cancer Disparities Research Network (CDRN), is based at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Region 4 serves Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Visit the Region 4 website to learn more.

Role Name
Principal Investigator Richard I. Fisher, The Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center
Project Directors

Susan G. Fisher, The Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center

Linda Fleisher, Fox Chase Cancer Center
Regional Coordinating Director

Carrie Norbeck, Fox Chase Cancer Center

Region 5

Region 5’s hub and regional leadership listed below are based at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. Region 5 serves Alaska, California, American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. Visit the Region 5 website to learn more.

Role Name
Principal Investigator D. Gary Gilliland, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Project Director Christopher Li, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Regional Coordinating Director

Sara Cole, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Region 6

Region 6’s hub and regional leadership listed below are based at the Huntsman Cancer Institute/University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. Region 6 serves Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Visit the Region 6 website to learn more.

Role Name
Principal Investigator Cornelia M. Ulrich, Huntsman Cancer Institute University of Utah
Project Director Kolawole Okuyemi, Huntsman Cancer Institute University of Utah
Regional Coordinating Director

Emily Kay, Huntsman Cancer Institute University of Utah

More Information

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