Harvard researchers launch new project to investigate how neighborhoods contribute to prostate cancer inequity
5 July 2022
Project Summary
The grant call aims to create a consortium of medical research charities, scientists, clinicians, nurses, pharma, funders and patients that will tackle this problem head on
A bold program of research across biological and social sciences
Transatlantic sharing of ideas and data between US and UK researchers
Research to commence in 2022, with findings reported in 2023-25
Significant impact beyond initial funding, further grant calls once interest is stimulated in research community
About the Researchers
1)
Researchers with a PhD and a minimum of 3 years post-PhD experience affiliated to a recognized US or UK educational or healthcare institution are welcome to apply.
2)
We actively encourage involvement from community groups and patients, including as co-investigators and collaborators.
3)
Awards will be from 1 – 3 years.
4)
Proposals should be solutions-oriented and seek to develop recommendations.
Project Updates
View all
Epigenetics Explained
16 April 2021
Prostate Cancer in the News
28 January 2021
Science News
21 December 2020
Racial disparities in prostate cancer – what we know
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men in the US and it disproportionately affects the African-American community. We know that:
- African-American men are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men.
- African-American men are 1.8 times more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime
It is not acceptable that this disparity exists, that we know so little about its causes and that we have done so little about it for so long. It is time to take action.
Racial disparities in prostate cancer – what we don’t know
Important questions have been overlooked or remain unanswered, these include:
- The extent that disparity is driven by biological or social factors
- The field’s understanding of the biology and psychosocial impact of prostate cancer being overwhelmingly based on studies of white men.
- What to do to counter the levels of distrust in healthcare systems, alongside delayed referrals and poorer experiences of cancer services
Given how big the gap in our understanding is and how many people die because of it we are shocked at the lack of funding focused on rectifying the disparities.
Prostate cancer deaths in 2018:
358,989 globally
Deaths estimated in 2035:
630,715 globally (75% increase)
What we want to do about it
Prostate Cancer Research is opening a dedicated grant call focused on addressing racial disparities in prostate cancer. We are aiming to fund both medical and social research to gather a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced and the cross-discipline actions that need to be taken.
Direct action is needed to target an area that has been serially underserved and to help resolve key unanswered questions, launching a new generation of solutions supported by a diverse range of stakeholders.