The University of Hawaii Cancer Center and the Queen’s Medical Center have been awarded a National Cancer Institute grant worth more than $3.8 million over five years to conduct cancer clinical trials for minority and underserved populations in Hawaii.

Queen’s will lead the cancer care delivery research component of the grant.

The grant, offered under the auspices of NCI’s Community Oncology Research Program, is part of a national effort to increase access to NCI research for minority, rural and underserved patient populations.

"This grant allows us to look at recent advances in cancer research and bring the new knowledge into clinical trials conducted in the community, where most patients receive their care," said Dr. Jeff Berenberg — an oncologist at Tripler Army Medical Center, a Cancer Center faculty member and co-principal investigator on the grant — in a news release. "It also allows us to identify those things that reduce cancer risk, enhance patient quality of life, and increase access to clinical trials for minority and other underserved populations."

The Hawaii program will encompass clinical oncology research with all community hospitals and private practice oncology physicians affiliated with the UH Cancer Center.