About Us

Our Story

The Meharry Medical College (MMC), Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), and Tennessee State University (TSU) Cancer Partnership (MVTCP) is the longest-standing U54 Comprehensive Partnership to Advance Cancer Health Equity (CPACHE) in the United States. For over 20 years, this collaborative partnership has provided a robust infrastructure to address and overcome cancer disparities, while expanding research opportunities, recruitment, training, and outreach.

Our Aims

  1. Increase the number of traditional, extramural awards on which MMC and TSU faculty serve as Lead PI’s, 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 the 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

Our Institutions

These three institutions are geographically located within a five-mile radius in Metropolitan Nashville, a region of the country with the highest cancer mortality rates, among the highest breast cancer mortality rates in non-Hispanic Blacks, and among the highest incidence of lung cancer in the United States.

Each partner institution offers the others collaborative access to facilities, resources, expertise, and special populations.

  • Access to minority patients for cancer disparities research
  • Training opportunities for minority students and early stage investigators
  • Infrastructure and space for the MMC components of the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and Translational Pathology Shared Resource Cores
  • Access to the only Biochemistry and Cancer Biology PhD training program in any Historically Black College and University in the US
  • Membership and access to VICC-supported Shared Resources for MVTCP faculty as well as other resources such as the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR)
  • Full access to Vanderbilt graduate courses for MMC and TSU students
  • Infrastructure and space for Vanderbilt components of the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core and Translational Pathology Core
  • Senior cancer researchers involved in mentorship of trainees, faculty career development activities and cancer disparities research collaborations
  • Experience and expertise in reaching minority populations through culturally appropriate and sensitive interventions and population-based research
  • Training opportunities for minority students and career development support for junior faculty
  • Infrastructure and space for the Community Outreach Core
  • Division of Research and Sponsored Programs services in pre- and post-award support, mentorship and information technology

Source: Pal T, Suiter SV, Moses HL, Smoot DT, Richmond A, Tiriveedhi V, Whalen MM, Adunyah SE. The Meharry-Vanderbilt-Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership (MVTCP): History and Highlights of 20 Years of Accomplishments. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2022;33(1):419-436. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2022.0032. PMID: 35153231; PMCID: PMC9319115.