Call for papers - Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer care

Guest Editors

Shakira Grant, MBBS, MSCR, American Society of Hematology/American Association for the Advancement of Science (ASH/AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellowships, USA
Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, West Cancer Center Research Institute, USA

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 21 February 2025

BMC Cancer is pleased to welcome submissions for a Collection on Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer care. This Collection aims to explore and address these disparities, fostering a better understanding of the underlying causes and proposing strategies for achieving health equity in cancer care.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Shakira Grant, MBBS, MSCR, American Society of Hematology/American Association for the Advancement of Science (ASH/AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellowship, USA

Dr Shakira Grant is a leading clinician-scientist specializing in cancer health disparities. Her research focuses on forging community partnerships to develop targeted interventions, particularly for underserved populations grappling with cancer and chronic conditions. With a background in qualitative research and federal health policy, including a fellowship with ASH/AAAS in the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr Grant's work delves into the complexities of health care access, especially among older adults. Her passion stems from over 18 years of clinical experience across diverse settings, both domestically and internationally. Dr Grant earned her medical degree from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Science in Clinical Research from the Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC-Chapel Hill, in 2023.

Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, West Cancer Center Research Institute, USA

Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, is a medical oncologist at West Cancer Center and Regional One Health. He has earned three board certifications, in internal medicine and medicine oncology.

Dr Vidal earned both his medical degree and PhD at Tulane University School of Medicine, and also holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from University of Mississippi.

Following medical school, he completed his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Stanford Hospital and Clinic where he served on faculty for a year before moving to Memphis.

As a medical oncologist, Dr Vidal is certified in treating solid tumor cancers but specializes in breast cancer using medical interventions such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Dr Vidal is considered an expert in breast cancer and lectures both nationally and internationally. He is highly sought out for his expertise in drug development and clinical trials. As an Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center he spends a portion of his time on research to develop better treatments and diagnosis for breast cancer patients.

He has been honored for his work by several prestigious institutions, including the Cancer Education Consortium, American Association for Cancer Research and Stanford Society of Physician Scholars. His research is published in renowned professional journals.

About the Collection

Cancer remains a significant public health concern globally, affecting individuals of all races and ethnicities. However, substantial disparities persist in cancer incidence, treatment outcomes, and survivorship among different racial and ethnic groups. These disparities are deeply rooted in societal injustices, medical mistrust, systemic healthcare inequities, health illiteracy, and limited access to quality care, all of which disproportionately affect the social determinants of health (SDoH) – defined by the World Health Organization as “conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age” – for racial and ethnic minority populations.

Patients from racial or ethnic minority groups with cancer may encounter explicit discrimination and/or unconscious bias in clinical settings. For example, compared to their White counterparts, Black patients are more likely to experience diagnostic and treatment delays, less likely to be offered clinical trial participation and genetic testing, less likely to receive appropriate care across multiple tumor types, and less likely to be referred to palliative care or hospice.

BMC Cancer is pleased to welcome submissions for a Collection on Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer care. This Collection aims to explore and address these disparities, fostering a better understanding of the underlying causes and proposing strategies for achieving health equity in cancer care.

We welcome submissions on a wide range of topics related to racial and ethnic disparities in cancer care, including but not limited to:

Epidemiology of cancer incidence and mortality among diverse racial and ethnic populations.
Access to cancer screening, early detection, and prevention services among different racial and ethnic groups.
Socioeconomic factors influencing cancer disparities, such as income, education, and healthcare access.
Cultural beliefs, attitudes, and practices impacting cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship.
Disparities in cancer treatment modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.
Clinical trials, cohort studies and cancer research involving different racial and ethnic groups. Patient-provider communication and its role in addressing disparities in cancer care.
Innovative approaches to reducing racial and ethnic disparities in cancer outcomes.
Health policy interventions aimed at promoting health equity in cancer care delivery.
Community-based initiatives addressing cancer disparities and promoting health equity.
The role of genetics, genomics, and precision medicine in addressing disparities in cancer care.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer care" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.