Abstract A08: University of Guam/University of Hawaii Cancer Center Partnership: An 11-year partnership to advance cancer health equity in Pacific Islanders

Abstract

Abstract The University of Guam (UOG)/University of Hawaii Cancer Center (UHCC) Partnership aims to build capacity to reduce cancer health disparities (CHD) in Guam, Hawaii, and the US-associated Pacific Islands (USAPI) through cancer research, training, and outreach. Since 2003, the UOG/UHCC Partnership has provided scholarships and training in CHD research to a growing number of graduate students at UOG and UHCC with a special focus on Pacific Islanders who are underrepresented in the fields of cancer research and healthcare. UHCC investigators provide mentorship to early stage investigators (ESI) at UOG through annual meetings and workshops, monthly video teleconferences, electronic communications, and summer fellowships at UHCC. A system has been established to review, award, and evaluate new and ongoing pre-pilot, pilot, and full research projects. Outreach activities draw upon the principles of community-based participatory research to increase tobacco cessation, reduce cancer risk, and strengthen tobacco control policy. Since Fall Semester 2009, 16 master's degree students at UOG have received fellowship support, and two UOG graduates are enrolled in doctoral programs at US mainland institutions. Two PhD students at UHCC are currently receiving fellowship support, and three master's degree students have graduated from UH. One scholar is now in a tenure track faculty position at UOG and engaged in the Partnership. Over the past five years, UOG developed a cancer health disparities curriculum tailored for the Pacific region, now a permanently sustained track in UOG's Micronesian Studies Program. In addition, mentorship and career development is provided to ESI at UOG: UHCC investigators have mentored 10 UOG ESI since 2009. Four UOG faculty received summer fellowships at UHCC; two subsequently secured pilot funding. Research of regional relevance and global importance is jointly conducted by investigators at UOG and UHCC, including six betel nut related pilot projects that are exploring the associations of betel nut use and health related conditions and behaviors among users in Micronesia; sociocultural factors affecting betel nut chewing in Guam; the influence of betel nut use on the oral microbiome; the identification of alkaloids present in the varieties of betel nut on Guam; identification of salivary biomarkers in betel nut consumption; and the functional assessment of molecular components of betel nut involved in pro-inflammatory mechanisms of immune cells. Other research projects are addressing CHD-related research questions around cancer risk and risk perception: health information trends and needs in the Pacific among adults and youth; feasibility of electrical breast densitometry in assessing breast cancer risk; and breast cancer risk factors for Pacific Islander women. Outreach projects are exploring community-based participatory approaches to youth tobacco use prevention and cessation in Guam, and the effectiveness of a social network-based approach to reducing tobacco-related cancer risk. Outreach activities have also contributed to the introduction and passage of significant public health legislation in Guam, resulting in decreased tobacco use and increased tobacco taxes, a percentage of which supports patient services in Guam as well as the Guam Cancer Registry. Almost 50 papers have been published, and at least 7 grants have been awarded to members of the partnership as a result of the work of the partnership. In conclusion, the unique multi-ethnic, sociocultural, and geographic characteristics of the UOG/UHCC partnership provide for many unique and important cancer research, training, and outreach opportunities with regional and global relevance. The Partnership has significantly increased research capacity at UOG and cultivated interest in cancer research among minority students attending the partner institutions. Outreach has resulted in model tobacco control policy in Guam. A regional research infrastructure has been established and resources have been leveraged to address Pacific Islander cancer health disparities in Guam, Hawaii, and the USAPI. Supported by NCI awards U54CA143727 and U54 CA143728. Citation Format: Hali R. Robinett, Rachael T. Leon Guerrero, Robert A. Underwood, Neal A. Palafox, David C. Ward, Carl-Wilhelm Vogel. University of Guam/University of Hawaii Cancer Center Partnership: An 11-year partnership to advance cancer health equity in Pacific Islanders. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A08.