American Association for Cancer Research

Cancer Health Disparities

One of the purposes of Minorities in Cancer Research is to address the disparities in cancer incidence and mortality faced by minorities and the medically underserved. Below you will find information about the AACR and MICR's involvement in this crucial area of research.

AACR Special Conferences
Third AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved
An AACR Conference in Cancer Research in conjunction with the Minorities in Cancer Research Council of AACR.

Save the Date
September 30 - October 3, 2010
Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Miami, FL

Conference Chairperson:

Levi A. Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA

Co-Chairpersons of the Scientific Program Committee:

Bettye L. Green, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, IN
Maria Elena Martinez, Ph.D., Univ. of Arizona Cancer Ctr., Tucson, AZ
William G. Nelson V, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD
Rena J. Pasick, Dr.PH., UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA
Eddie Reed, M.D., University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
Joseph D. Rosenblatt, M.D., University of Miami Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL
Sanya Springfield, Ph.D., NCI-Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, Bethesda, MD
Elizabeth Thompson, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Dallas, TX

This Conference was inaugurated in 2007 and was a landmark event on the path to understanding and, ultimately, eliminating the disparities in cancer that represent a major public health problem in our country. By promoting the exchange of novel ideas and information among a wide range of professionals and laity, from academia, industry, government, and the community, the conference was able to harness the potential and maximize the many opportunities for bringing research on health disparities from bench to bedside or community, and back again.

Visit the website for highlights from the 2007 and 2009 AACR Conferences on Cancer Health Disparities.

AACR Scientific Sessions
The AACR has demonstrated longstanding support of cancer health disparities by including this research area in its scientific sessions throughout the Association's Annual Meeting:

AACR Publications
The AACR publishes six highly-cited journals and in 2005 launched a magazine, CR. Cancer health disparities has been featured in articles and podcasts from these publications. See below for recent news:

For more information about cancer health disparities among minority populations, visit:

SPOTLIGHT

HD*Calc

  • The National Cancer Institute announces the launch of the Health Disparities Calculator (HD*Calc). The calculator--statistical software that generates multiple summary measures for evaluating and monitoring health disparities--can be used either as an extension of SEER*Stat, which allows users to import Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data or on its own with other population-based health data, such as from the National Health Interview Survey, California Health Interview Survey, Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The intended audience for HD*Calc includes anyone interested in health and cancer-related disparities, as well as those interested in learning about summary measures of health disparities.