NIH Publication No. 06-6015

Printed March 2006

For More Information

For more information about the Community

Networks Program, visit our Web site at

http://crchd.nci.nih.gov/initiatives/cnp/.

If you have additional questions about CNP, 

contact: 

Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities

6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 602

Rockville, MD 20852

PHONE: 301-496-8589

FAX: 301-435-9225 

National Cancer Institute

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health

The Community

Networks

Program (CNP)

Bridging the gap

between scientific

discovery and

delivery of care to

the community

Community Networks Program Projects

The 25 institutions

funded through the

CNP:

Baylor College of

Medicine

Redes En Acción: National

Latino Cancer Research

Network

PI: Amelie G. Ramirez,

Dr.P.H., M.P.H.

California State University,

Fullerton Foundation

WINCART: Weaving an

Islander Network for 

Cancer Awareness,

Research and Training

PI: Sora P. Tanjasiri, 

Dr.P.H., M.P.H.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer

Research Center

Hispanic Community

Network to Reduce 

Cancer Disparities

PI: Beti Thompson, Ph.D.

Harvard School of 

Public Health

Massachusetts

Community Networks to

Eliminate Cancer

Disparities Through

Education, Research, and

Training (MASS CONECT)

PI: Howard K. Koh, 

M.D., M.P.H.

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer

Center & Research

Institute

Tampa Bay Community

Cancer Network (TB-CCN): 

A Model for Reducing 

Health Disparities

PI: Cathy D. Meade, 

Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N.

Inter Tribal Council of

Arizona

Southwest American

Indian Collaborative

Network

PI: Kathryn Coe, Ph.D.

Lyndon Baines Johnson

Tropical Medical Center

American Samoa

Community Cancer

Network

PI: Victor W. Tofaeono,

M.D., F.A.C.S.

Mayo Clinic Rochester

The American

Indian/Alaska Native

Initiative on Cancer

PI: Judith S. Kaur, 

M.A., M.D.

MedStar Research

Institute

Latin American Cancer

Research Coalition

(LACRC)

PI: Elmer E. Huerta, 

M.D., M.P.H.

Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical

College—Community

Health Centers Network

PI: John E. Maupin, Jr.,

D.D.S.

Morehouse School of

Medicine

National Black Leadership

Initiative on Cancer III:

Community Networks

Program (NBLIC III: CNP)

PI: David Satcher, 

M.D., Ph.D.

Papa Ola Lokahi

‘Imi Hale—Native Hawaiian

Cancer Network

PI: Clayton Chong, M.D.

Temple University 

Center for Asian Health

Department of Health

ATECAR—Asian

Community Cancer

Network

PI: Grace X. Ma, Ph.D.

University of Alabama 

at Birmingham

Deep South Network 

for Cancer Control

PI: Edward E. Partridge,

M.D.

University of Arkansas 

for Medical Sciences

Arkansas Cancer

Community Network

(ARCCN)

PI: Ronda S. Henry-Tillman,

M.D.

University of California 

at Davis

Asian American Network 

for Cancer Awareness,

Research & Training

PI: Moon S. Chen, Jr., 

Ph.D., M.P.H.

University of Colorado 

at Denver and Health

Services Center

The Colorado Front Range

Latino Community Network

(CFRLCN)

PI: Estevan T. Flores, Ph.D.

University of Kentucky

Research Foundation

Appalachia Community

Cancer Network (ACCN)

PI: Mark B. Dignan, 

Ph.D., M.P.H. 

University of Maryland 

at Baltimore, School of

Medicine

The Maryland Regional

Community Network

Program to Eliminate

Cancer Health Disparities

(MRCN)

PI: Claudia Baquet, 

M.D., M.P.H.

University of North

Carolina at Chapel Hill

Carolina Community

Network

PI: Paul A. Godley, 

M.D., Ph.D., M.P.P.

University of Oklahoma

Health Sciences Center

University of Oklahoma

Community Networks 

Project (OUCNP)

PI: Laura Beebe, Ph.D.

University of South

Carolina Research

Foundation

South Carolina Cancer

Disparities Community

Networks (SCCDCN)

PI: James R. Hebert, 

Sc.D., M.S.P.H.

University of Washington

Regional Native 

American Community

Networks Program

PI: Dedra Buchwald, M.D.

Washington University

School of Medicine

Program for the 

Elimination of Cancer

Disparities (PECaD)

PI: Dione Farria, M.D.,

M.P.H.

Wayne State University

CNP for Older, Underserved

African-American Adults

PI: Terrance L. Albrecht,

Ph.D.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Beti Thompson

University of Washington Dedra Buchwald

Mayo Clinic Judith S. Kaur

University of Colorado Estevan T. Flores

University of California Moon S. Chen, Jr.

Washington University Dione Farria

California State University Sora P. Tanjasiri

University of Oklahoma Laura Beebe

Inter Tribal Council of Arizona Kathryn Coe

Baylor College of Medicine Amelie G. Ramirez

Papa Ola Lokahi Clayton Chong

Lyndon Baines Johnson Tropical Medical Center

Victor W. Tofaeono

Wayne State University Terrance L. Albrecht

Temple University Grace X. Ma

Harvard School of Public Health Howard K. Koh

University of Kentucky Mark B. Dignan

University of Maryland Claudia Baquet

MedStar Research Institute Elmer E. Huerta

University of North Carolina Paul A. Godley

Meharry Medical College John E. Maupin, Jr.,

University of South Carolina James R. Hebert

Morehouse School of Medicine David Satcher

University of Alabama Edward E. Partridge

University of Arkansas Ronda S. Henry-Tillman

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Cathy D. Meade
Encouraging Community Participation

Through the CNP, the fight against cancer

health disparities is being elevated to a new

level, and tangible steps are being taken to 

eliminate disparities by working in partnership

with and through communities to address their

cancer prevention and control needs. Practices

and lessons learned from the CNP will form 

the basis for the development of future programs and projects focused on eliminating the

disparities that affect too many Americans.

What are Cancer Health Disparities?

There have been great advances in the development of beneficial medical interventions in 

cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis 

and treatment. However, many Americans have

not fully benefited from these advances. 

There is a “disconnect” between our research

system, which develops interventions, and 

our delivery system, which provides these to

everyone. This “disconnect” leads to cancer

health disparities. 

Eliminating these disparities is a challenge to 

science and a moral and ethical dilemma to 

the Nation. 

include hospitals that serve the cancer care

needs of the community. A third type of 

partnership involves working with other 

community groups, such as local chapters of

the American Cancer Society, to enhance efforts

to reduce disparities in CNP communities. 

• Creating community-based cancer disparities

research and training 

CNP research spans the spectrum of community-based participatory research, from needs

assessments to development of culturally

appropriate interventions to policy evaluations. The CNP projects also include training

in community-based participatory research 

to reduce cancer health disparities. A third

aspect of this phase includes development

and implementation of research pilot studies

by new investigators.

• Establishing credibility and sustainability 

of programs 

CNP grantees will disseminate findings on

promising interventions that can be adopted

by other communities; obtain funding for 

further research in disparities reduction;

increase participation in primary and secondary prevention activities; improve access to

standard cancer screening, diagnosis, and

treatment; provide best practice guidelines;

and inform decision makers of promising

practice and policy approaches to reducing

cancer health disparities.

CNP — Implementing Community-based

Research, Education and Training

To address cancer disparities, NCI awarded 

$95 million in 5-year grants to fund 25 CNP

cooperative agreement projects across the 

United States and in American Samoa. 

Who Does CNP Reach?

CNP addresses cancer disparities among African

Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives,

Hawaiian Natives and other Pacific Islanders,

Asians, Hispanics/Latinos, and rural underserved

populations. Ten grantees work in local areas, ten

in regional areas, and five in national programs.

Phases of the CNP Program

• Building capacity through partnerships and

collaborations

Strategic partnerships and collaborations 

are being developed within the CNP to 

further enhance vital training, research 

and educational functions of the program.

One type of partnership involves working

directly with community-based groups representing populations that experience disparities,

or working through Community Advisory

Groups, composed of community leaders 

who serve as a voice of the community. 

Other partnerships involve clinical resources,

such as cancer prevention clinics and early

detection initiatives, which provide cancer

screening. Clinical resources may also 

The Community Networks 

Program (CNP)

Bridging the gap

between scientific 

discovery and 

delivery of care to 

the community

What is the Community Networks Program?

Launched in spring 2005, the National

Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Community

Networks Program (CNP) aims to

reduce and eliminate cancer disparities

through community-based research,

education and training. Its goal is to

significantly improve access to and use

of beneficial cancer interventions in

communities experiencing disparities. 

To achieve this goal, CNP is working

closely with multiple community

agencies and organizations to develop

and implement effective ways to reduce

cancer health disparities.

“Our commitment to closing the health-care

gap among racial and ethnic minorities is

unwavering. We will continue to support

community-based approaches to help racial

and ethnic minority populations experience

the benefits of modern medicine.”

—DHHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, CNP Launch, May 6, 2005