Abstract A85: Geographic management of cancer health disparities program (GMaP) region 2: An emphasis on regional institutional partnership and collaborative training of future health disparities researchers

Abstract

Abstract Background/Rationale: The Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP), initiated in 2009, is a national program designed to enhance capacity in the areas of disparities research; recruitment and career/professional development of underrepresented investigators, trainees, and students; communication and dissemination; and evaluation. It aims to build region-based “hubs” to support efficient management of cancer health disparities (CHD) research, training, and outreach. GMaP Region 2 covers Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico.The purpose of this poster is to inform students, trainees, early stage investigators (ESIs) and funded scientists in GMaP Region 2 about career development and mentoring opportunities. It describes a series of strategies to expand and strengthen GMaP Region 2 partnerships particularly with minority serving institutions (MSIs), and increase CHD related information dissemination and communication of resources. Methods/Approach: Since 2015, Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida has served as the regional GMaP hub collaboratively working closely with the Internal Coordinating Committee (ICC), a group comprised of representatives from academic cancer centers and universities to plan and direct GMaP Region 2 activities.GMaP activities include travel and expert grant review awards; CHD targeted training; research pilot funding; cluster meeting awards; and regional communications about current research and training opportunities. Partnerships with regional National Outreach Network (NON) CHEs to strengthen community education and outreach efforts in underserved communities are also integrated into the GMaP Region 2 activities. Results: To date, GMAP Region 2 held a kick-off strategic planning retreat with ICC members in January 2016, and continues to host quarterly planning calls. GMaP Region 2 awarded a total of 7 travel awards to Assistant Professors (1), PhD Candidates (2), Post-Doctoral Fellows (2), and ESIs(2). Institutional affiliation of travel award recipients include: Morehouse School of Medicine (2); Tuskegee University (2); Ponce Health Sciences University (1); University of South Florida (1); and University of Florida (1). A total of four E-blasts and one newsletter were distributed to over 350 cancer and CHD researchers throughout the region. Partnerships with regional NON-CHEs resulted in an educational webinar aimed to educate researchers on the vital role of CHEs in CHD research. Other initiatives, including expert grant (pre-submission) review, regional collaborative cluster awards, pilot funding and targeted trainings are being developed. Also, a collaborative work plan to identify and support potential K- series applicants is underway across all regions. Conclusion/Implications: The diversity in GMaP Region 2 and collaborative institutional partners fosters critical and collective endeavors that can potentially advance effective tackling of CHD through training and collaborative team science research. Increasing access to CHD training opportunities for underrepresented investigators, trainees/students and ESIs is an essential step to equip the next generation of researchers with tools required to reduce health outcomes related to CHD. Key to this process are engaging communications, robust partnerhships, and ideas fueled by diverse academic and community members from our region. Citation Format: Kimberly Williams, Khaliah Fleming, Clement K. Gwede, Cathy Meade, Teresita Munoz-Antonia, Thomas Sellers. Geographic management of cancer health disparities program (GMaP) region 2: An emphasis on regional institutional partnership and collaborative training of future health disparities researchers. [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 A85.