The Meharry Medical College/Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center/Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership (MVTCP) is focused on the shared goal of eliminating cancer disparities through a proportional approach encompassing basic, translational, clinical, and population science. Overall goals for this competing renewal application are to strengthen the capabilities of minority-serving institutions Meharry Medical College (MMC) and Tennessee State University (TSU) to engage in cancer research, as well as expand research in cancer health disparities at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). In order to accomplish our objectives, this Cancer Partnership aims to:

1) Increase the number of traditional, extramural awards on which MMC and TSU faculty serve as Lead PIs along with collaborative guidance under senior Vanderbilt faculty;
2) Increase the number of extramural awards to VICC early-stage investigators that address cancer health disparities;
3) Increase the number of peer-reviewed, MVTCP publications on which a minority-serving institution investigator is first and/or corresponding author;
4) Increase the number of MVTCP faculty presenting seminars and strengthen the series to foster collaborations within the Partnerships. Reach the critical mass needed for a thriving program of cancer disparities research by recruiting new cancer investigators in Partnership priority fields, such as big data/bioinformatics, immuno-oncology, and dissemination and implementation-focused research;
5) Expand MVTCP accrual of minority cancer patients for participation in national oncology clinical trials through newly established Population Research And Clinical Trials In Cancer Equity (PRACTICE) Shared Resource Core;
6) Strengthen the physical and intellectual infrastructure for research at MMC and TSU through resource-sharing with VICC;
7) Implement a robust outreach program that supports MVTCP studies of disparities by facilitating partnerships between community organizations and academic researchers, leading to hypothesis-driven research projects in areas that address the needs of the community;
8) Increase the number of MMC and TSU trainees engaged in cancer research;
9) Increase awareness of cancer research opportunities and careers for minority high school, undergraduate, graduate and medical students through the development and implementation of new Pathway to Discovery Program and coursework.