CURE Program's 10 Year Anniversary

This May, CRCHD celebrates the 10 year anniversary of the Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) program. The CURE philosophy of research training and career development strategically addresses each level of the biomedical research and educational pipeline to increase the pool of underrepresented minority candidates, emphasize scientific areas of greatest need, and expand and extend the period of training and career development.
http://minorityopportunities.nci.nih.gov/

CRCHD Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Branch (CMBB) Professional Development Workshop (closed meeting)

May 7-8, 2007
Hilton Washington DC North/Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg, MD
CRCHD is hosting the 2007 Professional Development Workshop for junior investigators in cancer and disparities research. This workshop aims to: a) highlight the importance of building collaborations and partnerships between programs and scientific disciplines, b) familiarize participants with a variety of NIH/NCI funding opportunities and the grants process, c) emphasize critical components to building a successful research career, and d) provide opportunities for participants of the CMBB and CRCHD programs to network with each other and with NCI staff.
http://minorityopportunities.nci.nih.gov/

Save the Date! Cancer Disparities Summit 2007

National Cancer Institute Cancer Health Disparities Summit 2007:
Catalyzing Trans-disciplinary Regional Partnerships to Eliminate Cancer Health Disparities
July 16-18, 2007
Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center and Hotel
Bethesda, MD
Updates on the Summit will soon be posted at http://crchd.cancer.gov

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NCI's New Spanish Web Site, Cancer.gov En Español

On April 2nd, 2007, NCI launched its new Spanish Web site, Cancer.gov en español. The Web site is tailored to the cultural and linguistic online cancer information needs of Latinos in the U.S. Cancer.gov en español addresses themes of prevention, detection and diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Highlights of the Web site include myths and beliefs and support as well as resources in the community.
http://www.cancer.gov/espanol
http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin

National Minority Cancer Awareness Week

National Minority Cancer Awareness Week (April 16-21) provided an opportunity for us to reflect upon the overall burden of cancer health disparities. Here at NCI, we support research to identify and understand the factors that contribute to cancer disparities. Additionally NCI is committed to reducing cancer health disparities by making cancer information readily available to underserved populations. Visit NCI's websites on cancer disparities for more information aboout minorities and cancer.
CRCHD Website
Cancer Health Disparities Web Portal
Cancer.gov En Español

Help the Sister Study Reach Their Goal of 50,000 Enrollees

The Sister Study is the only long-term study in the United States and Puerto Rico of women ages 35 to 74 whose sisters had breast cancer. Conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), this study will follow 50,000 women for at least 10 years to learn how environment and genes may affect the chances of getting breast cancer. Out of 34,925 women currently enrolled, many minority and senior women are participating — but many more are needed to reach the goal of 50,000.
http://www.sisterstudy.org

Office of Minority Health (OMH) to Help Nurses Provide Culturally Competent Care

The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health recently released a new accredited continuing education program for nursing professionals that has been endorsed by the American Nurses Association (ANA). Entitled "Culturally Competent Nursing Care: A Cornerstone of Caring," and provided at no cost, this course is designed to help nurses integrate cultural competency awareness, knowledge, and skills to more effectively treat increasingly diverse patient populations.
http://www.omhrc.gov
http://www.thinkculturalhealth.org

New Report Demonstrating Racial/Ethnic Differences in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Physical Activity in 2005

This report demonstrates some racial/ethnic differences in the combined prevalence of fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity. The low prevalence found among all groups underscores the need to promote diets high in fruits and vegetables and regular physical activity among all Americans.
http://www.cdc.gov

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NCI Grantee Spotlights

$25 Million Patient Navigation Program Aims to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities in Targeted Communities

Authors Narissa Nonzee, Athena Samaras, Charles L. Bennett, and Elizabeth A. Calhoun from the Chicago Patient Navigation Research Program site provide an overview of the history of patient navigation and the PNRP in a recent article for cancernetwork.com. PNRP aims to ameliorate health disparities among communities of lower socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minorities, and rural populations nationwide.
http://cancernetwork.com
Chicago Cancer Navigation Project

Artists Against Breast Cancer (AABC)

AABC, a community outreach program for breast cancer prevention and early detection represents a collaboration among the South Carolina Cancer Center, Claflin University and the South Carolina Multicultural Arts Center. This program, which is part of the Community Network Program (CNP) South Carolina Cancer Disparities Community Networks, began with a call to target college students and community members in the areas served by the two Universities, inviting individuals experiencing breast cancer in his/her family to come forward and produce a work of art inspired by that experience.
http://www.scmcac.org
South Carolina Cancer Disparities Community Networks

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Enhancing Practice

Oncology Nurses Help Patients Navigate the Cancer Journey

(ONS Connect, March 2007, p. 8)
Nurse navigator programs are a relatively new model of care in which nurses follow patients from the time of initial diagnosis throughout their treatment and follow-up care. Navigator programs are increasingly springing up in oncology clinics and hospitals throughout the country.
http://www.ons.org

Meta-Analysis of Racial Disparities in Survival in Association with Socioeconomic Status Among Men and Women with Colon Cancer

(Cancer, Early View, April 23, 2007)
Few studies have addressed racial disparities in survival for colon cancer by adequately incorporating both treatment and socioeconomic factors, and the findings from those studies have been inconsistent. The objectives of the current study were to systematically review the existing literature and provide a more stable estimate of the measures of association between socioeconomic status and racial disparities in survival for colon cancer by undertaking a meta-analysis.

See Full Article

See Related Article

• Racial Gap in Cancer Death Linked to Social Status

Does Having Insurance Affect Differences in Clinical Presentation Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Women with Breast Cancer?

(Cancer, Early View, April 9, 2007)
Hispanic women with breast cancer present differently than do non-Hispanic white (NHW) women. Lack of access to care has been offered as an explanation for these differences. In this study breast cancer presentation was examined in Hispanic women in a comprehensive, equal-access health care system.

See Full Article

See Related Article

• Hispanic Breast Cancer Differences Persist with Equal Access to Care
• Race Differences in Breast Cancer Due to Biology
• Hispanic Women More Likely Than Others To Be Diagnosed With More Aggressive Breast Cancer, Study Finds
• Hispanic Women's Biology May Spur More Aggressive Breast Cancer
• Breast Cancer Worse for Hispanic Women

Predictors of Comprehensive Surgical Treatment in Patients with Ovarian Cancer

(Cancer, Early View, April 9, 2007)
Providing appropriate surgical treatment for women with ovarian cancer is one of the most effective ways to improve ovarian cancer outcomes. In this study, the authors identified factors that were associated with a measure of comprehensive surgery, so that interventions may be targeted appropriately to improve surgical care.

See Full Article

See Relate Article

• Age, Race, and Income Level Associated with Undertreatment of Ovarian Cancer
• Blacks, Hispanics Among Women Least Likely To Receive Comprehensive Surgery for Ovarian Cancer, Study Finds
• One-Third Get Poor Ovarian Cancer Treatment

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Notice of Intent to Publish Program Announcements with Review to Support Behavioral and Social Science Research on Understanding and Reducing Health Disparities (NOT-OD-07-063)

The NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, in collaboration with several NIH Institutes/Centers and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), plans to issue two Program Announcements with Review (PARs) using R01 and R21 funding mechanisms in early June 2007 and with an earliest start date in July 2008.
http://grants.nih.gov

Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award

The National Committee for Quality Assurance, supported by The California Endowment, announces its second annual Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care award program to publicly recognize health plans that have implemented initiative to improve the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services and reduce health care disparities. All health plans including managed care organizations (MCOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs) are encouraged to submit applications for consideration.
Application Deadline: May 31, 2007
http://web.ncqa.org

Change in Agency Contacts and Letter of Intent Receipt Date for: Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (PAR-07-018)(R21),(PAR-07-019)(R03),(PAR-07-020)(RO1)

The ultimate goal of this program announcement is to encourage empirical research on health literacy concepts, theory and interventions as these relate to the U.S. DHHS’s public health priorities that are outlined in its HealthierUS and Healthy People 2010 initiatives.
Application Receipt Dates: May 24, 2007; January 24, 2008; September 24, 2008; May 25, 2009; January 25, 2010
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-061.html

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Kaiser Live Webcast: Disparities in Child Health: Why are Expansions in Coverage Important?

May 2, 2007
1:00 pm EST
http://www.kaisernetwork.org

2007 NRHA Annual Conference and Minority and Multicultural Conference

May 14-18, 2007
William Egan Civic and Convention Center
Anchorage, AK
http://www.nrharural.org

2007 Minority Health Disparities Summit: Addressing Health Disparities: Moving Beyond Hope to Action

May 16-18, 2007
Embassy Suites Hotel - Tampa Downtown
Tampa, FL
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/minority/Summit_Page2.htm

2nd Annual Texas Conference on Health Disparities: Health Disparities to Health Equities: Pathways to Solutions

May 31 - June 2, 2007
UNT Health Science Center
Fort Worth, TX
http://www.hsc.unt.edu/HealthDisparities/conference.html

Living Now - A Survivor's Conference on Life after Transplant

June 9, 2007
The Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel
San Francisco, CA

June 16, 2007
Renaissance Philadelphia Airport Hotel
Philadelphia , PA
http://www.marrow.org

Community Connections: Using Research Results to Reduce Health Disparities

June 25-28, 2997
Wintergreen Resort
Wintergreen, VA
http://www.etsu.edu/health/convention/about.html

2007 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program National Research Conference

October 4-7, 2007
Grand Hyatt Hotel
Washington, D.C.
http://ehrweb.aaas.org/HBCU/

Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)

November 7-10, 2007
Austin Convention Center
Austin, Texas
http://www.abrcms.org