英语小短文

NCI has a longstanding history of pursuing research aimed at understanding and addressing cancer health disparities. As many as 20 years ago, NCI established the Special Populations Studies Branch to study groups of people within the United States who suffer a greater burden of cancer. NCI's commitment to underserved populations continued to grow and mature over the years, and, in 2001, the institute established the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) to serve as the cornerstone of NCI's efforts to reduce the unequal burden of cancer in our nation.

Today, CRCHD is working to strengthen and integrate NCI's studies in basic, clinical, translational, and community-based research that offer opportunities to advance our understanding of cancer-related health disparities and ways to effectively address them. CRCHD manages specific programs and grants aimed at examining the diverse aspects of cancer-related disparities. These programs are addressing the cultural barriers and biases that racial and ethnic minorities encounter in obtaining appropriate and timely treatment, as well as financial and physical restraints that prevent underserved populations from obtaining quality health care. CRCHD is also leading NCI's efforts to train students and investigators from diverse populations to pursue research in cancer, as well as research examining factors that contribute to cancer health disparities.

CRCHD also cosponsors an annual Cancer Health Disparities Summit. During this three-day meeting, NCI-funded researchers from training, education, and outreach programs gather to discuss both disparities issues that are present in their communities and possible solutions for these issues.