# Multidisciplinary Training in Ethnic Diversity and Cancer Disparities

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA · 2021 · $483,457

## Abstract

At the root of health disparities is the diversity in the biological, social, cultural, behavioral, and economic
characteristics of individuals and populations. The study of ethnic/racial disparities begins with an
understanding of the characteristics of each group and how these characteristics affect cancer development
and outcomes. This new application for a joint T32 postdoctoral training program at University of Hawaii
Cancer Center (UHCC) and the University of Southern California (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
(NCCC) addresses cancer health disparities utilizing a unique resource, the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study, a
population-based prospective cohort study that has followed African Americans, Native Hawaiians, Japanese
Americans, Latinos, and whites for the past 25 years. Linkages to cancer registries, Medicare, and other data
sources provide a variety of endpoints for MEC and many other cancer disparity studies conducted at both
institutions. The complementary research at UHCC and USC is supported by cutting edge cores and benefits
from many years of experience. The specific aims of the proposed training program are:
1. To train postdoctoral fellows for independent careers in cancer research in diverse populations, with a
 specific focus on the sociocultural, nutritional, lifestyle and biological risk factors leading to cancer health
 disparities in a variety of ethnic/racial minorities. This program is highly unique and will leverage the long-
 standing (30+ years) collaboration between research programs at two NCI-designated Cancer Centers to
 permit a broader experience in training and tools for epidemiological research.
2. To provide extensive applied research experience in a multidisciplinary environment focusing on nutritional,
 molecular, genetic and translational epidemiology that builds on multiple unique racial and ethnically
 diverse studies of cancer. Together with strong mentorship, these studies will serve as the centerpiece for
 an effective transdisciplinary training, which will allow trainees to design innovative high-impact projects,
 and will prepare trainees for careers in cancer health disparities research.
During the 5-year grant period, the training program will educate 8 postdoctoral fellows in Hawaii and 10 in Los
Angeles. All trainees will be exposed to a wide range of innovative molecular and traditional cancer prevention
approaches (epidemiology, biomarkers, genomics, and nutrition) to address a wide range of cancer disparity
research questions across the ethnic/racial populations in Hawaii and California through the close cooperation
of mentors in both locations and regular exchange visits. The dual-site training, which regular includes
exchange visits, is a particular strength of the proposed training program as it will provide exposure to multi-
institutional and multi-disciplinary collaborative research that builds on the expertise and long-standing
collaboration between UH and USC in research, e...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10132262
- **Project number:** 5T32CA229110-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA
- **Principal Investigator:** Christopher Alan Haiman
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $483,457
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10132262

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10132262, Multidisciplinary Training in Ethnic Diversity and Cancer Disparities (5T32CA229110-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10132262. Licensed CC0.

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