Summary The reasons for increased incidence and mortality due to prostate cancer in African-American men could be due to inherent biological differences and/or socio-economic reasons. Combined strategies based on basic biological research and community outreach programs are required to combat this disease in the African- American community. The Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development (CCRTD) focuses on reducing the burden of prostate cancer disparities through research, outreach, and education. In an effort to provide information on health disparities, which disproportionally affects the African-American population, CCRTD established a Community Outreach/Education Core in 2005 as part of its research efforts. Prostate cancer has a devastating effect on the health of African-American men; consequently it is of great concerns for CCRTD. Since the inception of the Core, CCRTD has served as a bridge to the community and as an advocate for action that promotes prostate health improvement. CCRTD also hosts one of the largest group of basic research scientists in the area of prostate cancer cell and molecular biology. As part of its research activities, CCRTD organizes weekly invited speaker seminars and journal club series and host a biennial national prostate cancer symposium on CAU campus. These venues play a significant role in exchange of scientific information at the local and national level. We will engage our community partners in the day-to-day function of CCRTD and will seek input from community to guide basic research at the Center. The proposed Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program, Community Engagement and Dissemination (CED) core will combine both strengths of CCRTD and create an infrastructure for development of constant interactions between various communities with the focus on the development of the best practices for the elimination of prostate cancer health disparities. The Core proposes to build upon already established relationships in the community to provide researchers and community members with the recognized need of community engagement in academia, where the value of research evidence and community wisdom will provide effective strategies to address health disparities. This multi-faceted approach will ensure the Center’s meaningful community participation in research, training, and dissemination activities. Recognizing that effective community partnerships are constructed over time through trust, respect, and commitment, the strategies and tasks of the Core will be to foster and support the emergence of community engaged or participatory research relationships. The CCRTD is committed to reducing disparities in cancer burdens among minority population groups and to achieving health equality through its programmatic education and dissemination strategies. The Core plans to expand these community education activities to increase prostate cancer awareness among African-American men. In addition, t...