COMMUNITY

SOCIETY

GENOMICS

SAMBAI

ENVIRONMENT

TUMOR BIOLOGY

SAMBAI (Societal, Ancestry, Molecular and Biological Analyses of Inequalities) is an international cancer research and community partnership led by Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) in Atlanta, Georgia, and supported through the Cancer Grand Challenges initiative.

SAMBAI brings together scientists, clinicians, patients, survivors, advocates, community organizations, and research institutions across the United States, United Kingdom, and several African nations (Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa) to understand why some populations experience disproportionately poor outcomes from cancer. The program focuses particularly on breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers and populations of African ancestry.

Patient Involvment

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Embodiment of Societal Stress

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Genetic Ancestry-Aware

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Tumor Immunological Environment

Patient Involvment · Embodiment of Societal Stress · Genetic Ancestry-Aware · Tumor Immunological Environment

The Research Data Framework Domains

  • Social Group

    Societal Determinants

    Examines how individual experiences, social and cultural factors, neighborhoods, and structural conditions shape cancer risk and outcomes across communities of African descent.

  • Ecology Cycle

    Environmental Exposures

    Uses exposomics, geospatial data, and environmental measurements to uncover how the places people live and the exposures they encounter influence cancer-related biological processes.

  • Geometric drawing DNA.

    Ancestry-Aware Genomics

    Uses advanced genomic and pangenomic approaches to understand how inherited ancestry, tumor genetics, and gene–environment interactions contribute to cancer inequities across the African diaspora.

  • Tumor cell

    Tumor Immunology

    Investigates how systemic inflammation, the tumor immune microenvironment, social and environmental exposures, and ancestry intersect to influence cancer development, progression, and response to treatment.

  • Patient Involvment

    Places patients, survivors, and caregivers at the center of SAMBAI by integrating lived experience into research, recruitment, interpretation, communication, and community advocacy.

Why we are a unique program…

Genomic ancestry without environment risks genetic reductionism; social determinants without biology cannot explain therapeutic vulnerability; tumor profiling without context misses upstream calibration of inflammation. The solution is simultaneous measurement across domains.

Big Ideas,
Real Impact.

Driven by curiosity and built on purpose, this is where bold thinking meets thoughtful execution. Let’s create something meaningful together.

GET A QUOTE

  • "We’re blessed to have access to you and this!”

    —Patient Participant

  • “I heard about the SAMBAI project, started looking for information about it and stumbled upon this.”

    —Cancer Survivor

  • “Thank each of you for all that you do and have done to benefit the Black community.”

    • Patient Advocate

LET’S GET STARTED

Our team is ready to provide the attention, care, and expertise you deserve.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT