Cancer Center Support Grant

Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle): Chu, Edward OVERALL - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center (MECC), formerly known as the Albert Einstein Cancer Center, is the fourth oldest NCI-designated cancer center in the U.S., having received NCI designation in 1972, and is now celebrating its 50th year as an NCI designated cancer center. The overarching mission of MECC is to reduce the burden of cancer in the Bronx and the nation through exceptional cancer research, education & training, community outreach and engagement, and provide compassionate care for all including historically marginalized communities that face heightened inequities in cancer and social determinants of health. Our Bronx catchment area is home to 1.5M residents, and we serve one of the most racially and ethnically diverse populations and one of the poorest communities in the U.S. To achieve our mission, MECC has 132 members organized into 4 Research Programs (RPs): Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis (TMM), Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (SCCB), Cancer Therapeutics (CT), and Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control (CEPC). The science of these RPs is facilitated by 8 Shared Resources (SRs). All MECC RPs conduct cancer-focused research that is relevant to the Bronx catchment area, and this science is greatly facilitated by the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE). The MECC COE is the main vehicle by which our Center understands, engages with, and serves the needs of the underserved communities in our catchment area, and it plays a critical role in facilitating the Center’s research that is relevant to the catchment area. Our Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) programs are well integrated with the four RPs and with our COE initiatives. Moreover, the MECC is focused on creating a diverse pipeline for the next generation of cancer scientists and clinicians. With the arrival of the new Director in October 2020, MECC has engaged in several transformative processes, which include the following: (1) created a new MECC Strategic Plan; (2) appointed 9 new Senior Leaders and 8 Program Leaders; (3) restructured the RPs to more tightly align and focus cancer research and to more effectively foster transdisciplinary collaboration and translational research; (4) tightened MECC membership criteria to enhance cancer focus; (5) formed 7 new internal MECC committees and 2 new MECC external committees to enhance organizational capabilities; (6) created Offices for COE and CRTEC; (7) appointed a new Associate Director for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DEI); (8) created a new Department of Oncology that is more tightly aligned with MECC; (9) formed a Cancer Service Line Executive Committee and a new funds flow model to MECC; (10) recruited 42 new faculty that span the entire spectrum of cancer-focused science; and (11) established a Women’s Task Force to enhance gender balance and diversity. OMB No. 0925-0001/0002 (Rev. 03/2020 Approved Through 02/28/2023) Page