The Health Research Council has given Otago University $1.2 million to find out why Maori have a lower cancer survival rate than non-Maori.
Diana Safarti, from the university's Wellington-based department of public health, says the three-year study will focus on co-morbidity, when people are battling more than one illnesses at the same time.
She told Waatea News that that may be more common among Maori.
Dr Safarti says the first year will be spent collecting and analysing hospital and treatment data from around the country.
