Population Science, Cancer Health Disparities and Cancer Control

Program Leaders: Dr. Marianne Berwick and Dr. Steve Belinsky

The Cancer Population Sciences Research Program was formally established in 1973 when the New Mexico Tumor Registry joined with 6 other population-based tumor registries to form the NCI-SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results) program. The NM SEER data provide the fundamental, population-based data for hypothesis generation in this program, and has led to a strong base of funding for research in lung, breast, skin/melanomas and gastrointestinal cancers. The striking differences in cancer patterns, health disparities, and outcomes among New Mexico’s multiethnic population are under intense investigation to uncover the genetic, environmental, social, and behavioral factors that account for these patterns and disparities. In addition, the program’s community-based research and outreach in cancer education, screening, and prevention among rural, American Indian and Hispanic populations work toward correcting those disparities.

Led by co-directors Marianne Berwick, Ph.D., and Steven Belinsky, Ph.D., the Cancer Population Sciences Research Program joins 30 full members and 12 associate members from five departments within the UNM School of Medicine (Internal Medicine, Family and Community Medicine, Pediatrics, Radiology and Surgery), two Departments on the UNM Main Campus (Psychology, Mathematics and Statistics) and the UNM College of Pharmacy, the UNM College of Nursing, the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, the U.S. Indian Health Service, the Center for Native American Health, and the Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center.

The scientific goals of this program are:

1. To identify the genetic, environmental and social risk factors that contribute to the development and progression of cancer in New Mexico’s multi-ethnic populations;
2. To identify the genetic, epigenetic, environmental and behavioral factors that can improve early detection through screening;
3. To evaluate the genetic, environmental and social factors that can influence cancer mortality and survival; and
4. To develop an infrastructure for future community and clinical interventions to reduce the disparities in cancer incidence and survival among the multi-ethnic populations of New Mexico.

The high quality of the interactive research in this program has resulted in a large number of peer-reviewed grants and collaborative publications. Program members currently hold a total of $7,040,944 in direct cost annual funding, of which $6,940,944 is peer-reviewed, and $2,382,202 (34%) is from the National Cancer Institute, demonstrating the strong cancer focus of the program. Program members also receive an additional $1,364,007 in annual NCI SEER direct cost funding in support of the New Mexico Tumor Reigstry.

Program members serve in national leadership roles in multiple cooperative group initiatives and in NIH review panels. The large number of collaborative publications, the success at obtaining peer-reviewed funding, and the national leadership roles played by Program members document the excellence of the interactive efforts of this Program.

Researchers in the Cancer Population Sciences Research Program