Exploring the CSUF-UCI partnership's innovative approach to addressing cancer health disparities through community-engaged research and equitable solutions.
Maria, a 52-year-old farmworker from Orange County, noticed a lump in her breast but hesitated to see a doctor. Between language barriers, lack of health insurance, and fear of medical bills, she delayed her appointment for months. When she finally received care, her cancer had advanced. Stories like Maria's represent a troubling reality in healthcare: where you live, what you earn, and the color of your skin can determine your cancer outcomes.
This injustice is what drives the pioneering partnership between California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and the University of California, Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCI CFCCC). In communities where health disparities have long been overlooked, this collaboration is building bridges between laboratory research and the people who need it most. They're part of a growing movement recognizing that cancer solutions must be designed with and for the communities experiencing the greatest burdens 1 7 .
Where you live, what you earn, and the color of your skin should not determine your cancer outcomes, yet these factors create significant disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and survival rates.
Cancer health disparities refer to the significant differences in cancer measures—including incidence, prevalence, mortality, and survivorship—that exist between specific population groups. These inequities aren't random; they're systematic, preventable, and unjust 1 7 .
Consider these stark statistics from the American Cancer Society's 2025 report:
These gaps aren't about biology alone. They're shaped by what researchers call the social determinants of health—the conditions where people are born, grow up, live, work, and age.
| Cancer Type | Population Group | Disparity | Potential Contributing Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prostate Cancer | Black Men | 2x higher mortality than White men | Later stage at diagnosis, access to treatment, biological factors |
| Cervical Cancer | Native American Women | 3x higher mortality than White women | Screening access, vaccination rates, healthcare infrastructure |
| Liver & Stomach Cancer | Native American Populations | 2-3x higher mortality than White people | Environmental exposures, infection rates, screening access |
| Early-Onset Cancers | Women <50 years | 82% higher incidence than male counterparts | Changing risk factors, diagnostic delays, biological differences |
As Dr. Robert A. Winn, director of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, explains, the field of disparities research has deep roots, tracing back to the 1890s when W.E.B. Du Bois studied the conditions of Black people living in Philadelphia 1 7 . Today's researchers stand on the shoulders of pioneers like Dr. Harold Freeman, who in the 1990s worked to reduce high mortality rates among Black women with breast cancer in Harlem by creating patient navigation programs 1 7 .
The partnership between CSUF and UCI CFCCC represents an innovative approach to tackling these complex challenges. By combining the strengths of a minority-serving comprehensive university with those of an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, this collaboration creates a pipeline for both research and researchers.
Designing studies with community input from the outset
Mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds in cancer research
Moving discoveries from the laboratory to the community more quickly
Bringing together experts from biology, public health, social sciences, and clinical medicine
This model aligns with what organizations like the American Cancer Society are funding through initiatives like their Cancer Health Research Centers program, which emphasizes "actionable, solution-based research designed to improve the health of the community" 5 .
Dr. Joanne W. Elena, scientific director at the American Cancer Society, notes that their research grants place "special emphasis on research investigating prevention, detection, treatments, and cancer survival in understudied groups" 1 .
Higher funding for collaborative research
Increase in diverse researcher participation
Community partnerships established
Years of sustained partnership
One compelling example of the partnership's work involves addressing the disproportionately high rates of cervical cancer in Hispanic communities. While regular screening through Pap tests has dramatically reduced cervical cancer incidence overall, certain populations—including immigrant women and those with limited access to healthcare—continue to experience elevated rates.
Researchers from CSUF and UCI developed a study to test whether providing a more convenient, private screening option could increase participation among rarely-screened women. Their approach included:
The findings were striking: 87% of those who received the self-collection kit returned a completed sample, while only 30% of those referred to a clinic received a Pap smear 1 .
This dramatic difference demonstrates how adapting screening methods to address specific barriers can transform health outcomes.
"Our findings indicate that a targeted, culturally sensitive, convenient, and private option really appealed to women, and may help us get closer to the ultimate goal of eliminating cervical cancer" 1 .
| Study Group | Number of Participants | Screening Completion Rate | Key Factors Influencing Participation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Sampling Kit Group | ~570 | 87% | Privacy, convenience, cultural appropriateness, ease of use |
| Clinic Referral Group | ~570 | 30% | Transportation, time off work, childcare, insurance concerns |
The implications extend far beyond cervical cancer. This research approach provides a model for developing culturally tailored interventions across different cancer types and communities. It demonstrates that sometimes the most advanced scientific solution isn't a new drug or technology, but a reimagined delivery system that respects people's lives and circumstances.
Tackling cancer health disparities requires specialized tools and approaches that blend traditional laboratory science with community engagement.
These groups of community members provide essential guidance throughout the research process, ensuring studies are culturally appropriate and address real community needs.
Health information designed with specific cultural contexts in mind, including appropriate languages, images, and messaging.
First developed by Dr. Harold Freeman to help Black women with breast cancer in Harlem access care, patient navigators guide individuals through the complex healthcare system 7 .
Mapping technology that helps researchers visualize where cancer disparities are concentrated and identify potential environmental and social contributors.
Collections of blood, tissue, and other samples from diverse populations that enable researchers to study biological factors alongside social determinants.
Advanced laboratory platforms that can measure multiple biomarkers simultaneously from small sample volumes 2 .
As the CSUF-UCI partnership continues to evolve, several emerging areas hold particular promise:
Researchers are exploring how AI can improve early cancer detection in underserved communities, particularly through platforms like Stand Up To Cancer, which is "placing a priority on research into the use of AI for the early detection of cancer" 1 .
Rather than focusing solely on individual behavior, scientists are designing studies that address upstream factors—like housing policy, environmental regulations, and economic development—that shape cancer outcomes.
The next frontier involves tailoring prevention strategies not just to individual genetics, but to the social, cultural, and environmental contexts that influence cancer risk.
Researchers are increasingly working to translate their findings into policy recommendations that can create systemic change, recognizing that many health disparities require legislative solutions.
This work occurs against a backdrop of both challenge and opportunity. As noted in the AACR Cancer Progress Report, "While the administration's position has been to eliminate programs and grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) strongly believes that to continue building on the monumental progress that has been made in cancer research and patient care during the past few decades, a diverse workforce is essential" 4 .
The partnership between CSUF and UCI CFCCC represents more than just a research collaboration—it's a commitment to the idea that everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer, regardless of their background or circumstances.
This work stands in a long tradition of scientific perseverance in the face of adversity. As Dr. Robert Winn reminded researchers at a recent conference, pioneers like Percy Julian, who made pain medications more affordable despite widespread segregation, provide "a playbook for how to handle today's challenges" 7 . Their legacy continues in the labs, clinics, and communities where disparities researchers work to ensure that scientific progress benefits everyone.
The path forward requires what Dr. Winn calls "the best science that we can do" 1 —science that is rigorous, innovative, and fundamentally committed to equity. Through partnerships like that between CSUF and UCI, that vision of science is becoming a reality, bringing us closer to a future where a person's chance of surviving cancer doesn't depend on who they are or where they live.