CDU-UCLA Cancer Center Partnership to Eliminate Cancer Health Disparities

In 1995, CDU initiated a structured cellular and molecular oncology research program. Led by Dr. Jay Vadgama, the research program has remained continuously funded from competitive research grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and other national grant sources. In 2002, the Department of Internal Medicine established a formal Division of Cancer Research and Training under the leadership of Dr. Jay Vadgama. This development complemented an evolving partnership with UCLA, and it attested to a long-term focus in cancer research, training, education, and treatment. Soon after, CDU and UCLA established a formal, partnered breast cancer research training program to enable promising CDU faculty and postdoctoral fellows to obtain the critical experience and training necessary for independent funding. Since then, CDU and UCLA have collaborated on several projects which have been funded by more than $30 million in grants from federal institutions.  

Center to Eliminate Cancer Health Disparities was established through the Division of Cancer Research and Training in 2009 through a grant from the National Institute of Health. Numerous research projects are currently being conducted by the Center’s faculty and staff, including basic laboratory research, community outreach and engagement and clinical trials activities.  

Research projects and pilots in partnership with UCLA are aimed at addressing health disparities in the areas of breast, colon, prostate, and gynecological cancers, to name a few. Two additional resources, Clinical Research Resource and Recruitment Resource, aim to diversify patient and researcher recruitment into cancer health disparities research activities.  

For more information, please visit the CDU-UCLA Partnership webpage. 

Last updated
January 16, 2025