Abstract A48: University of Guam/University of Hawaii Cancer Center Partnership: Thirteen years of progress in addressing cancer health disparities in Pacific Islanders

Abstract

Abstract The University of Guam (UOG)/University of Hawaii Cancer Center (UHCC) Partnership aims to grow cancer research capacity at UOG, develop cancer health disparities research at UHCC focusing on Pacific Islanders (PI), raise awareness of cancer and cancer prevention in Guam (GU), Hawaii (HI) and the US Associated Pacific Islands (USAPI), and increase the number of cancer and biomedical science researchers of PI ancestry in the United States. An infrastructure comprised of 6 principal investigators, over 30 participating faculty, administrative staff, and external and internal reviewers, backed by institutional support and NCI sponsorship, has supported 13 years of research, training, and outreach designed to reduce cancer health disparities and advance health equity among PI in GU, HI, and the USAPI. Since 2009, the Partnership has funded 15 cancer research projects addressing cancer research priorities of global and regional relevance, including cervical cancer and betel nut chewing - a traditional practice associated with oral pre/carcinoma, affecting 600 million users worldwide. Over 70 manuscripts have been published, 90 abstracts presented, and 9 grants secured. To address the underrepresentation of PI in biomedical sciences, the Partnership has supported 26 graduate fellows, including 6 doctoral students at UH. One PhD graduate is now a faculty member at UOG and engaged in research supported by the Partnership. UOG's Micronesian Studies Program now offers a cancer health disparities track, developed by the Partnership and tailored for the Pacific region. In addition, UOG/UHCC faculty, junior investigators, and pre/postdocs receive mentorship, career development and summer research fellowships; to date, five UOG faculty have participated in the summer fellowship program at UHCC and two have subsequently secured pilot funding. Outreach projects have explored community-based participatory approaches to youth tobacco use prevention and cessation in Guam, and the use of social networking to reduce tobacco-related cancer risk. Community-based participatory research has also led to landmark tobacco control 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. Current outreach efforts aim to increase cervical cancer screening in the islands. In conclusion, the Partnership has significantly increased research capacity at UOG and cultivated interest in cancer research among underrepresented minority students at the partnering institutions. A regional research infrastructure has been established and resources continue to be leveraged to address PI cancer health disparities in Guam, Hawaii, and the USAPI. Master's and PhD-trained graduates of the program are now participating in and directing cancer studies relevant to their communities, and mentoring future scientists committed to the Pacific Region. Supported by NCI grants U54CA143727 and U54CA143728. Citation Format: Carl-Wilhelm Vogel, David C. Ward, Neal A. Palafox, Hali R. Robinett, Rachael T. Leon Guerrero, Robert A. Underwood, John A. Peterson. University of Guam/University of Hawaii Cancer Center Partnership: Thirteen years of progress in addressing cancer health disparities in Pacific Islanders. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A48.