Leaders from California State University, Sacramento, and UC Davis Cancer Center have signed an agreement to create a "Partnership to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities Through Education, Research and Training" that pairs the UC Davis Cancer Center's Outreach Research and Education Program with departments in Sacramento State's College of Health and Human Services.

The agreement calls for the two entities to collaborate on initiatives to strengthen cancer education and outreach and increase cancer awareness in diverse populations.

The goal is a long-term partnership that leads to research in cancer prevention and control, and builds on the two entities' expertise in health literacy, informed decision-making, problem solving, symptom management, and cultural, educational and informational interventions.

Ralph deVere White, assistant dean for cancer programs at UC Davis and director of the UC Davis Cancer Center, said the groundbreaking partnership will help make the Sacramento region the first in the country to eliminate disparities in cancer among underserved populations.

"By joining with our colleagues at Sacramento State, we take a great step forward," deVere White said.

He added, "The CSUS faculty bring a whole set of complementary areas of expertise to this fight."

Ric Brown, Sacramento State provost and vice president for academic affairs, said, "The faculty and students of both institutions will benefit from this partnership as will the residents of the Sacramento region with respect to health care."

Among the projects under consideration are joint grant applications for research, training and programs, graduate student research opportunities, scholarships for minority students, and training opportunities with federal agencies.