Cancer Disparities Research Network : Bringing institutions and their communities together to reduce cancer disparities utilizing network assessment and development

The CDRN, NCI's Region Five GMaP/BMaP Network, brings together community-engaged researchers, basic scientists and biospecimen and bioinformatics researchers to address the challenges in cancer disparities and biospecimen related research. The CDRN was built over 18 months and currently includes 19 institutions in 8 states. A Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNAT) was conducted to acquire information relating to current practices, resources and needs of each institution; evaluate capacity to conduct cancer health disparities (CHD) research; assess collaborative potential in the region for conducting CHD research; and assess minority biospecimen collections and biobanking practices. The CNAT utilized a mixed methods approach of four instruments: A Principal Investigator Survey and Interview and a Pathology/ Biospecimen Facility Survey and Interview. The PI Survey was completed by 15 of 19 institutions, a 78.9% completion rate. Biospecimens surveys were received from 10 of 13 institutions (77 % completion rate). Key Informant Interviews were conducted with 17 Principal Investigators and 11 Biospecimen Facility Administrators. Data from the CNAT were used to determine the region's strengths (e.g. research in barriers to screening and health literacy) and weaknesses (e.g., experience conducting biospecimens awareness and education research), and to develop an implementation plan (IP) to structure future growth activities, establish short and long term objectives, identify areas for future funding, and outline a five-year plan for collaborative research or support. Ultimately, strategies for increasing minority and medically underserved populations' participation in clinical and biospecimens related research will be identified.