Mission
The Mission of The GRACE Center is to act to investigate and ameliorate causes of disproportionate suffering from benign and oncologic gynecologic health conditions, so that all people may live full and healthy reproductive lives. We believe that gynecologic health spans the lifetime and is intimately linked with gynecologic cancers that affect individuals later in life. Our goal is to unite these perspectives to deepen our understanding of the science of gynecologic cancers through transdisciplinary approaches, grounded in the perspectives of marginalized people with lived experience.
| What Is It? | The Stats | The People |
|---|---|---|
|
Endometrial cancer is a cancer of the inner lining of the uterus, or womb. It is often simply called 'uterine cancer', and is distinct from cervical cancer or ovarian cancer. Anyone with female reproductive organs is at risk for endometrial cancer. |
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the US - 4x more common than cervical cancer and 2x more common than ovarian. US Black women have a 90+% higher mortality than US White women due to delayed diagnoses, aggressive cancer types, and inequalities in our healthcare system. |
Endometrial cancer affects all kinds of people. ECANA, the Endometrial Cancer Action Network for African- Americans is a group of survivors, researchers, and advocates who work together to promote community, education, and research progress. |
Quick Facts
- 8.5 Team Members
- $7,980,403 Active Grants
- 6 Grant Applications (4 Funded, 2 Under Review)
- 917 square feet in New Office Space
- 3 National Presentations (ACOG, SRI, NIH ORWH)
- 1 New Publication
Goals
We seek to create catalytic conversations that deepen awareness and create new connections that facilitate understanding of gynecologic equity issues in the U.S.
We seek to be a possibility model of centering the margins, inclusive leadership, and meaningful impact using research and research partnership as our tools.
We seek to support the emergence of more scholars of gynecologic health equity, through opportunities for students, trainees, and faculty members.
Values
At the GRACE Center, we:
…value kindness, warm community, high quality work, and radical innovation.
… we acknowledge that we function in racist, sexist, ableist, transphobic, and homophobic systems and we choose to use our work to combat these moral failings to improve the conditions of gynecologic health for marginalized populations.
…value balance and joy – and ultimately, believe each one of us can make this world a better place. At the GRACE Center we give each other grace.
…value kindness, warm community, high quality work, curiosity, growth and radical innovation.
At the GRACE Center, we acknowledge that we function in racist, sexist, ableist, transphobic, and homophobic systems and we choose to use our work to combat these moral failings to improve the conditions of gynecologic health for marginalized populations.
…value balance and joy – and ultimately, believe each one of us can make this world a better place. At the GRACE Center we give each other grace.
Current Projects
- The SISTER Study (Social Interventions for Support in Treatment of Endometrial Cancer and Recurrence – Dr. Doll
- GUIDE-ED (Guidelines for Ultrasound in Early Detection of Endometrial Cancer) – Dr. Doll
- Mixed Methods Process Evaluation of The SISTER Study – Dr. Jorge
- Unblinding the Disparities Within: A Critical Evaluation of Gynecologic Cancer Clinical Trials Using a Health Equity Lens – Dr. Oluloro
- Racial Differences in Hysterectomy: A Multilevel Investigation – Dr. Robinson, Duke (R01)
- ITHS Community Engagement Core: Preclinical Research Engagement – Dr. Ko, UW (U54)
- TP53 in Endometrial Cancer Development and Racial Disparities – Dr. Risques, UW (CCSG Pilot)
Upcoming / Under Review Projects
- Multilevel Determinants of Racial Disparities in Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Endometrial Cancer Treatment (Collab, PI: Dr. Felix, OHSU R01)
- Dissemination Tool of Biopsy-First Early Detection of EC: Guides by Us (GRACE Lead)
- The Carolina Endometrial Cancer Study Survivor Cohort (Collab, PI: Drs. Olshan and Nichols)
- Designing Novel Mechanisms for Acceptability of Blood and Tissue Based Research Among Black Women with High-Risk Endometrial Cancer (GRACE Lead)
- ROSES: Roles of Social Change in Engagement Science (GRACE Lead)