This study will examine racial differences in stress responses between African American and white male smokers as part of the Translational Research Center in Lung Cancer Disparities (TRACER). This study will generate novel empirical data that can be leveraged into precision strategies for lung cancer prevention through smoking cessation and other intervention approaches.

This study will use a mixed methods approach to engage cancer patients and providers in order to characterize awareness about clinical trials, describe referral experiences, and examine participation in cancer clinical trials to develop and evaluate a multi-level data driven intervention to improve CCT recruitment.

The objective for this study is to identify barriers and facilitators to referring patients, especially those from minority and underserved groups for early phase therapeutic trials among health care providers in oncology clinics.  Read more about this project here. 

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are now recognized as playing an essential role in health care delivery and outcomes. Current pilot programs throughout the country typically use verbal or written screening tools administered by healthcare personnel to identify SDOH, if at all. This study aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of identifying and documenting SDOH among patients using health information technology (HIT).

The American Cancer Society Navigation Capacity-Building Initiative Grant Program is a component of the Society’s commitment to enhancing oncology patient navigation and addressing barriers to individualized, timely, and equitable access to care for cancer patients and their families. Each grant supports an established navigation program for 30 months with the goal to enhance institutional oncology patient navigation processes, policies and systems and address barriers, gaps, and challenges for patients, especially those from populations traditionally excluded. Each institution has a unique project designed to decrease health disparities and increase health equity. This data will measure the impact of their strategies to improve patient access to and completion of care.

The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention will open in October 2024. The new Center is funded by the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation and will increase access to early cancer screenings, improve timely cancer treatment through patient navigation, and enhance social needs navigation efforts through partnerships across USC Norris and community health clinics. Read more about the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention here.