Health Disparities Committee (HDC) (Special Populations)

Committee Charge

The NRG NCORP Health Disparities Research (HDR) Committee has transformed from a core educational NRG Oncology committee into a protocol generating committee to develop interventional concepts, and to integrate secondary endpoints in NCORP trials and NRG Oncology treatment trials, all focused on health disparities research and improving cancer care and outcomes for underserved populations. HDR will have the ability to develop concepts and, most importantly, to work in close collaboration with NRG NCORP CPCR and CCDR to co-develop protocols as appropriate. The HDR is a shared committee between NRG NCORP and NRG Oncology NCTN (with co-funding). HDR will continue to build on the significant legacy and ongoing work to focus on the following areas:

• Focus 1. Develop interventional studies to decrease health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities;
• Focus 2. Test interventional studies for optimal care of at risk elderly; and
• Focus 3. Identify optimal access to cancer screening, treatment, symptom management and surveillance of rural populations.

The overarching goal of NRG HDR is to understand and address health disparities in an effort to reduce the unequal burden of cancer in the United States (U.S.). Biospecimen collection embedded in these trials will assist in generating new knowledge of genetic and molecular biomarkers associated with disparities. The HDR Committee is comprised of multidisciplinary scientists with expertise in each of the focus areas as well as behavioral health, symptom management, community engagement, and social determinants of health.

Request for PILOT Project Applications

Date Issued: December 1, 2022

Submission Due Date: February 17, 2023

NRG Oncology NCORP solicits PILOT projects addressing NRG NCORP Health Disparities Research (HDR) priorities. PILOT projects should generate preliminary data and address feasibility issues to inform the development of a future NCORP concept.  The current focus of HDC is to move past simply documenting outcome differences to the development and testing of interventions to remedy them. Applications for this award should address committee priorities including:

• Focus 1. Development of interventional studies to decrease health disparities among disparity populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, residents in rural geographic areas, and individuals from other medically underserved groups.
• Focus 2. Testing interventional studies for optimal care of at-risk elderly.
• Focus 3. Identify optimal access to cancer screening, treatment, symptom management and surveillance among diverse disparity populations.

Please see full details here.

Committee Vision Statement

The Health Disparities Committee can leverage NRG andNCORP networks to elevate and nurture passion for cancer equity, ensuring thatNRG Oncology trials prioritize health and cancer outcomes for all patients, families and communities.

Health Equity Mentors

 Tara Castellano, MD

Oluwadamilola Oladeru, MD

Sonya Reid, MD

More information about the above mentors and th NRG Health Equity New Investigator Mentor Program for Underrepresented Minority Scholars

NCORP Pilot Projects Funded

• Breaking Down Sexual Health Barriers in Underrepresented Female Cancer Patients Receiving Pelvic Radiation Therapy (Chin) 
  
  
• Understanding How High Risk Human Papilloma Virus Serotypes Impacts Racial Disparities in Orophayrngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Watts)
• Relational Agents in HPV Vaccination (Gogoi)

Resources

Resources that have been recommended by members of the NRG Oncology Health Disparities Committee are available by clicking here (login required).

Announcements

The NRG Oncology Health Equity New Investigator Mentor Program for Underrepresented Minority Scholars. Click here to read the announcement.

Cultural Competence Workshops  (login required)