title: Cancer disparities: unmet challenges in the elimination of disparities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The first 20 years of publication of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention occurred during a period of increased attention to health disparities and advances in knowledge about their determinants. Yet, despite clear documentation of disparities and advanced understanding of determinants, we have made little headway in reducing disparities at the population level. Multilevel models, such as one produced by the Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities (CPHHD), hold promise for understanding the complex determinants of cancer disparities and their interactions as well as translating scientific discoveries into solutions. The CPHHD model maps across a range of scientific disciplines, from the biological to the social, each with its own disciplinary language and methods. The ability to work effectively across disciplinary boundaries is essential to framing comprehensive solutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  After briefly characterizing the current state of knowledge about health disparities, we outline three major challenges faced by disparities researchers and practitioners and offer suggestions for addressing these challenges.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These challenges are how to consider race and ethnicity in disparities research, how best to translate discoveries into public health solutions to cancer disparities, and how to create a research environment that supports the successful execution of multilevel research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attention to all three of the challenges outlined above is urgently needed to advance our efforts to eliminate cancer disparities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addressing the challenges outlined above will help to eliminate disparities in the future.
authors.affiliation: The Brown School, Box 1196, Washington University, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA. sgehlert@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gehlert
authors.forename: Graham A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Colditz
mesh_terms: D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology