A four-year $3 million grant, made possible by the support of Bristol Myers Squibb, was announced this month to study ways to reduce socioeconomic and racial disparities in lung cancer. 

The grant will fund a clinical research as care program at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center and University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The grant was part of the Stand Up To Cancer health equity initiative and will support a team to conduct outreach and research for community-driven lung cancer interventions.

African Americans Face Greater Lung Cancer Risk

African Americans, who are disproportionately impacted by social determinants of health, often suffer greater rates of smoking and other risk behaviors. African Americans also have, on average, less access to lung cancer screening and care options.

In addition, rural and underserved areas have little access to cutting-edge clinical research that in a number of therapeutic areas can literally extend life itself. 

All three institutions have been identified by the Nationa…