Medical University of South Carolina NCORP Minority/Underserved Community Site

The Medical University of South Carolina/Hollings Cancer Center (MUSC/HCC) aims to expand and enhance the NCORP trial portfolio by accruing from other medically overlooked groups into NCORP studies, share expertise and experience on broadening recruitment and retention and leveraging local knowledge within the NCORP community, and contribute to the development and implementation of cancer care and cancer delivery research. During the current project period, the MUSC NCORP-MU, which is comprised of three MUSC/HCC sub-affiliates and community oncology primary affiliates, has made significant contributions to the NCORP program through the effective and efficient accrual of historically overlooked patient populations and leadership that has shaped the scientific agenda for clinical trials, disproportional cancer health outcomes, and cancer care delivery research. These accomplishments were made possible through a highly invested and transdisciplinary investigative team consisting of David T. Marshall, MD (Radiation Oncology). Craig Lockhart, MD, MHS, (Medical Oncology), Marvella E. Ford, PhD (Public Health Sciences), and Evan Graboyes, MD, MPH (Otolaryngology and Public Health Sciences). The multi-PI team works hand-in hand with the clinical research operational leaders at the MUSC/HCC and local clinical investigative team at the NCORP affiliate location to establish and manage a robust clinical research operation to add value to NCORP. This leadership team has also worked collaboratively with other committed clinical and cancer control researchers, oncology care providers, cancer patients, and survivors in our catchment areas to advance all types of cancer research through the NCORP research bases. The MUSC NCORP-MU aims to improve fairness and access to clinical research in medically overlooked groups in order to enhance the quality of cancer care delivery and reduce differences in cancer health outcomes within South Carolina and communities across the US.