The mission of the field of population sciences is to reduce the risk, incidence, and deaths from cancer as well as to enhance the quality of life of cancer survivors. Programs to enhance cancer care at the community level are established based on the findings of genetic, molecular carcinogenesis, epidemiology, behavioral, social, and surveillance cancer research.

At the NYU Cancer Institute, population sciences work brings together staff from four distinct NYU campuses: Sterling Forest, the NYU School of Medicine, the NYU College of Dentistry, and Washington Square.

Prevention and Outreach

Social and cultural barriers to effective cancer care lead to inequities in cancer outcomes. Determining effective intervention strategies to reduce these barriers is vital -- especially in a city like New York, where as many as 40 percent of the population are foreign-born.

The NYU Cancer Institute has created several programs to minimize disparities in cancer care in our community. Examples include:

• The Cancer Outreach, Outcomes, and Research for Equity (CORE) Center, which addresses disparities in cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship among immigrant and minority communities in the New York City area. The CORE Center partners with the community to design and implement inter-institutional cross-disciplinary research, education, information dissemination, and program and policy development. 
• Community programs include seminars and workshops, cancer screenings, and the Lynne Cohen Screening and Prevention Clinics at NYU Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital.

Research

At the NYU Cancer Institute, population science research is also being conducted through the following programs:

• Epidemiology
• Environmental and Molecular Carcinogenesis
• Biostatistics