The Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development (CCRTD) has recently been designated as a Clark Atlanta University Center of Excellence. The goal of CCRTD is to develop a university-wide Center of Excellence in cancer research and education. This Center of Excellence will comprise both natural and social scientists, from various university schools (Arts and Sciences, Education and Social Work) and from different departments, which will establish a multidisciplinary team engaged in research, education and community service.

At Clark Atlanta University, we will develop a Cancer Center which serves the African-American community by providing opportunities for high-caliber cancer research, training of African-American scientists in cancer research and provide an educational environment for community outreach for prevention, early detection and treatment of cancers which disproportionately affect the African-American community.

In 2004, we decided to restructure CCRTD to incorporate our vision. We decided to focus our initial efforts on the impact of prostate cancer in the African-American community. This decision was based on the significantly higher rate of incidence and mortality among African-American men due to this disease, and to the unique expertise of CCRTD faculty that can be readily applied to this area of research. The incidence rate of prostate cancer is 65% higher and the mortality rate due to prostate cancer is almost double in African-American men when compared to Caucasian men. The reasons for this increased risk for African-American men could be due to inherent biological differences or due to socioeconomic reasons. CCRTD is dedicated to become the only center in the country that is focused on research, education and community service in the area of prostate cancer and its impact on African-American men.

The overall mission of CCRTD is:

1. To develop a core group of internationally known group of scientists, that will carry out highly productive basic research in cancer cell biology and contribute in development of successful therapeutic strategies to combat cancer.
   
   
2. To involve undergraduate and graduate students in the area of cancer research and to train postdoctoral fellows in the area of cancer biology and, hence, help develop future generation of African-American scientists of the highest caliber.
   
   
3. To establish an educational program that will help to increase awareness for prevention, early detection and treatment of cancers, especially those which disproportionately affect the African-American community.