Centers for Cancer Control Research in Persistent Poverty Areas

  1. Health Disparities and Health Equity
  2. Research Emphasis Areas
  3. Poverty
  4. Centers for Cancer Control Research in Persistent Poverty Areas

Persistent poverty areas, such as rural communities in Appalachia and urban neighborhoods in the Mississippi Delta, are areas where, for more than 30 years, at least 20% of the population has lived below the federal poverty line. These areas face significant health disparities, including higher cancer rates, delayed diagnoses, and lower survival outcomes. To begin to address these issues, the NCI launched the Persistent Poverty Initiative (PPI), a $50 million investment that establishes five new Centers to build research capacity, promote cancer prevention efforts, and implement community-based programs in persistently poor census tracts. The initiative aims to address structural and institutional factors driving cancer inequities, such as income inequality, healthcare access and quality, and the built environment.

Each center is working with local communities and tribes to develop interventions that target key issues, including obesity reduction, improved nutrition, physical activity promotion, smoking cessation, and better living conditions. Additionally, the centers are training early-career investigators to conduct multilevel intervention research in underserved areas, ensuring long-term focus on reducing cancer disparities. The PPI seeks to address cancer inequities at their root causes and reduce the cancer burden across the U.S.

Persistent Poverty Initiative Awarded Sites

Persistant Poverty Map

 

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration

Home Page:

Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration

Grant Number (RePORTER Link):

CA280804-01

Contact PI:

Karen M. Basen-Engquist

Abstract:

The Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration aims to reduce cancer risk and improve outcomes in communities affected by persistent poverty, specifically focusing on the historic Black community of Acres Homes in Houston, Texas. Using a community-engaged approach, the Center addresses obesity—the second leading preventable cancer cause—by exploring social and environmental factors like food insecurity and limited access to recreational spaces. Working within MD Anderson’s Be Well Communities™ initiative, the Center’s five cores will promote healthy diet and physical activity changes to mitigate obesity-related cancer risks, bridging the gap between research and practical, community-driven solutions.

Announcements:

The University of Alabama at Birmingham - Cancer Awareness, Research, Engagement, & Support (CARES) Center 

Home Page:

Cancer Awareness, Research, Engagement, & Support (CARES) Center

Grant Number (RePORTER Link):

CA280770-01

Contact PI:

Maria Pisu

Abstract:

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Center for Cancer Control in Persistent Poverty Areas (C3P2) aims to reduce cancer disparities in Alabama’s poorest urban and rural communities, where obesity-related cancers are particularly prevalent. Recognizing the impact of social determinants of health, such as living environments, on cancer risk, C3P2 seeks to address these challenges through multi-level interventions. By expanding research and implementation efforts, the Center focuses on improving cancer outcomes throughout the continuum from prevention to survivorship, targeting the complex interplay of factors that drive higher cancer mortality rates in persistent poverty areas.

Announcement:

Stanford University – Upstream Research Center

Home Page:

UPSTREAM Research Center

Grant Number (RePORTER Link):

CA280811-01

Contact PI:

David H. Rehkopf

Partner Institutions:

University of California at San Francisco, University of California at Davis

Abstract:

The UPSTREAM Research Center addresses the challenges of cancer prevention in persistent poverty areas by targeting fundamental causes like income deprivation. Collaborating with Stanford, UCSF, and UC Davis, the Center uses innovative, community-driven approaches to tackle social determinants of health. Through partnerships with California’s Guaranteed Basic Income and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) programs, UPSTREAM aims to evaluate the impact of these income support interventions on cancer risk factors and outcomes. This $35M initiative seeks to transform cancer prevention in economically disadvantaged areas by implementing multisector solutions that integrate research, policy development, and community input.

Weill Medical College of Cornell University - Center for Social Capital (SoCa): Promoting Multigenerational Health

Home Page:

Center for Social Capital (SoCa): Promoting Multigenerational Health

Grant Number (RePORTER Link):

CA280808-01

Contact PI:

Rulla M. Tamimi

Partner Institutions:

Columbia University, The Mount Sinai Hospital

Abstract:

The Center for Social Capital (SoCa) aims to reduce cancer health inequities in New York City’s areas of persistent poverty by fostering collaboration among academic institutions, community organizations, and various stakeholders. NYC’s wealth disparities and diverse demographics, with a high proportion of non-White, foreign-born, and impoverished residents, present challenges for cancer control efforts. SoCa’s mission focuses on three primary goals: building partnerships to sustain cancer control research, implementing innovative interventions targeting education and healthcare to increase social capital, and developing a sustainable infrastructure to support future cancer health equity. The Center addresses top barriers—financial burden, low health literacy, and social stigma—by employing community-engaged strategies to enhance early cancer detection and treatment.

The University of Utah - Center for Hope

Home Page:

Center for Hope

Grant Number (RePORTER Link):

CA280812-01

Contact PI:

David W. Wetter

Partner Institutions:

Huntsman Cancer Center, Montana State University

Abstract:

The “HOPE & CAIRHE 2gether” (HC2) initiative aims to expand access to evidence-based cancer prevention interventions in persistent poverty areas across the Mountain West. By uniting the Center for Health Outcomes and Population Equity at the University of Utah and the Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity at Montana State University, HC2 leverages community partnerships and institutional expertise to address key health issues. Guided by a Community and Scientific Advisory Board, HC2 employs strategies tailored to local contexts and emphasizes “Reach through Equitable Implementation” to improve cancer outcomes, offering a model for community-engaged research that bridges scientific discovery with practical, culturally aligned solutions.

Announcements:

Last Updated
November 14, 2024