Participation Of Underrepresented Minorities Research Articles

Abstract PO3-09-10: Minority participation in breast cancer therapeutic trials at an NCI-CCC affiliated safety-net system: Advancing equity in clinical research

Abstract Authors: Nasir Qureshi, MBBS Fabian Robles, MS Mai Badran, MBBS Nisha Unni, MD Hsiao C Li, MD Samira Syed, MD Glenda Delgado-Ramos, MD Sangeetha Reddy, MD Heather McArthur, MD Navid Sadeghi, MD Title: Minority participation in breast cancer therapeutic trials at an NCI-CCC affiliated safety-net system: Advancing equity in clinical research. Introduction: Participation of under-represented minorities (URMs) in clinical trials enhances the generalizability of the findings and can also improve clinical outcomes. Multiple factors, such as access, language barrier, distrust, and misconceptions, negatively impact URM enrollments in cancer clinical trials. Here we describe our approach to increase participation of breast cancer URMs in therapeutic trials at an academic-affiliated safety-net system. Methods: Parkland Health (PH) is a large safety-net system in Dallas County, Texas, and is affiliated with the NCI-CCC designated Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC) at UT Southwestern. A dedicated team of SCCC research coordinators support the clinical trial operations at PH. In 2020, several steps were taken to increase access and enrollment of URMs in breast cancer trials at PH including review and optimization of the trial portfolio (more trials in curative intent setting), proactive screening, increasing provider awareness, and addition of a bilingual (English/Spanish) patient navigator to the research team. Data for 2018-2019 (pre-intervention) and 2021-2022 (post-intervention) is presented here. Data for 2020 is excluded due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on trial operations. Results: Racial and ethnic minorities composed the majority of breast cancer patients at PH (52% Hispanics, 32% Blacks). Ten percent of new patients at PH presented with metastatic disease. In 2018-2019, PH's portfolio included 13 therapeutic trials, 5 of which (38%) were in metastatic setting and 3 required a biomarker. A total of 47 breast cancer patients were enrolled in 11 therapeutic trials at PH, accounting for an average annual accrual rate of 6.1% (7.6% in 2018 and 4.5% in 2019). Accrual to trials in the metastatic setting accounted for 11% (5/47) of enrollments. Two trials in the metastatic setting had zero accruals. In 2021-2022, 16 trials were open at PH, including 7 cooperative group, 4 industry-sponsored (ISTs), and 5 Investigator-Initiated trials (IITs). Five trials (31%) were in metastatic setting and 4 required a genomic biomarker. A total of 87 patients were enrolled in 2021-22, representing an 85% increase in the accruals over the baseline (2018-2019). The annual accrual rates for 2021 and 2022 were 10.5% (43/409) and 10.4% (44/423), respectively. In 2021-22, 63 were enrolled in cooperative group studies, 20 in IITs, and 4 in ISTs. Accrual to trials in the metastatic setting accounted for 6% (5/87) of enrollments. Two studies had zero accruals. The majority of the trial participants (77/87; 89%) belonged to URMs (64 Hispanic, 13 Black). Overall participation rate was 67% (87/129) and was significantly higher in Hispanics compared to Blacks (77% vs 41% - p < 0.001). Among Black patients who declined participation, 42% (8/19) cited lack of interest as the reason, which may reflect distrust or misperceptions regarding clinical trials. Conclusions: The collaboration between academic centers and safety-net systems provides a unique opportunity to promote equity in clinical trials by increasing access and enrollment of URMs. Developing a balanced portfolio that matches the patient population, enhanced screening, and incorporating clinical trial patient navigation at our institution resulted in a sustained increase in the number of URM trial participants. Given the lower participation rate among eligible Black patients, we aim to expand our clinical trial navigation program to better address the distrust and misperceptions regarding clinical trials, as a strategy to further improve trial participation at our institution. Citation Format: Nasir Qureshi, Fabian Robles. Minority participation in breast cancer therapeutic trials at an NCI-CCC affiliated safety-net system: Advancing equity in clinical research [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-09-10.

Abstract A064: My Choices: A multilevel, multicomponent intervention to improve informed decision-making about clinical trial participation among cancer patients

Abstract Background: Knowledge gained through cancer clinical trials (CTs) has been proven critical to preventing, diagnosing and treating the disease, and providing the evidence base for clinical practice. Major advances in cancer treatment, which are essential for improving patients’ outcomes, come from investigations of new therapeutic agents in CTs. Despite the large number of available studies and improvements in public awareness about CTs, participation of underrepresented minorities in clinical research has been persistently low, with only 2-5% of Latinos and African Americans participating in cancer treatment trials. Barriers to participation are multilevel, complex, and multifactorial, including study design, healthcare system barriers, and patient- and medical team-related factors. Structural inequities, social determinants of health (SDoH), distrust of government, patient-doctor communications, cultural and language barriers, and lower levels of health literacy are barriers for Latino and African American populations. Purpose: To improve informed decision-making about cancer CT participation among cancer patients and community members through a bilingual multilevel, multi-communication approach, including: 1) a 2-group parallel randomized controlled educational trial, and 2) a community awareness campaign. Methods: The randomized study involves 400 patients from the Mays Cancer Center. The intervention group receives 1) a bilingual educational video on CTs with patients’ testimonials, 2) a low literacy booklet, 3) support from a patient navigator (PN), and 4) Salud America! weekly emails with links to online/social media posts on CT. The control group receives a general fact sheet on CTs. Healthcare providers involved in clinical research are invited to participate in Webinars to raise awareness of implicit bias and the importance of inclusive research. The community intervention features a prospective single-group pre/post design, where participants (400) act as their own controls. They receive an educational session on CTs provided by a community health educator + a low literacy booklet. Results: Focus groups guided the development of the video script, booklet, and educational materials. The short video features real cancer patients sharing their experiences with CTs and how they overcame common barriers. Study recruitment began in February 2023. So far, we have recruited 36 cancer patients with a mean age of 51 years, 80% White and 61% Hispanic/Latino, 64% married, 44% had Medicare/Medicaid; 36% < high school education; and 33% earned <$40K. Preliminary results will be presented. Conclusions: Multilevel interventions involving culturally tailored decision aids (i.e., video, booklet) in combination with PN support can effectively address common barriers influencing patient decision-making, raise awareness of CTs, and increase positive attitudes, intentions, and participation in CTs among groups experiencing SDoH. Citation Format: Patricia Chalela, Vivian Cortez, Armida Flores, Sandra Sivak, Edgar Munoz, Cliff Despres, Callie Rainosek, Alyssa Gonzalez, Mio Kitano, Virginia Kaklamani, Kate Lathrop, Sukeshi Arora, Andrew Brenner, Deepak K. Pruthi, Amelie G. Ramirez. My Choices: A multilevel, multicomponent intervention to improve informed decision-making about clinical trial participation among cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A064.

Towards inclusive public administration systems: Public budgeting from the perspective of critical race theory

AbstractWhile there is a developing consensus that governments need to address systemic racism, public administration scholarship has not played a large role in supporting policymakers who want to achieve that end. To institutionalize that effort, we analyze the budget process as a setting to identify inequities and incorporate social equity given its overarching reach across all programs and policies. This article uses the tenets of critical race theory to illustrate how to use the budget process to incorporate equity. The resulting racial equity budgeting (REB) framework has three tenets: acknowledging and correcting historic biases, increasing the voice of nondominant groups, and disrupting the status quo by ensuring equity in current policies. The REB framework suggests how public officials may apply these tenets to the stages of public budgeting, including the use of reparation statements, increasing the participation of underrepresented minorities, and reviewing the disaggregated impact of policies, among others.

Abstract P6-05-22: Multilevel, Multicomponent Intervention to Improve Informed Decision-Making about Clinical Trial Participation among Cancer Patients

Abstract Background: Knowledge gained through cancer clinical trials (CTs) has been proven critical to preventing, diagnosing and treating the disease, and providing the evidence base for clinical practice. Major advances in cancer treatment, which are essential for improving patients’ outcomes, come from investigations of new therapeutic agents in CTs. Despite the large number of available studies and improvements in public awareness about CTs, participation of underrepresented minorities in clinical research has been persistently low, with only 2 to 5% of Latinos and African Americans participating in cancer treatment trials. Barriers to participation are multilevel, complex, and multifactorial, including study design, healthcare system barriers, and patient- and medical team-related factors. Structural inequities, social determinants of health, distrust of government, patient-doctor communication, cultural and language barriers, and lower levels of health literacy have all been cited as common barriers for Latino and African American populations. Purpose: To improve informed decision-making about cancer CT participation among cancer patients and community members through a bilingual multilevel, multi-communication approach, including 1) a randomized controlled educational trial (clinic-based settings), and 2) a community education module (community-based settings). We will assess the impact of the intervention on awareness, attitudes, self-efficacy, and intentions to consider CTs as an appropriate treatment option for cancer and improve CT participation rates. Methods: The clinical setting includes a 2-group, parallel, randomized study with 400 patients from the Mays Cancer Center. The intervention group receives 1) a bilingual educational video on CTs, 2) a low literacy booklet, 3) support from a patient navigator (PN), and 4) an invitation to join our Salud America! network providing online/social media CT information. The control group receives a general fact sheet on CTs. All healthcare providers involved in clinical research will participate in Webinars to raise awareness of implicit bias and the importance of inclusive research. The community-setting intervention features a prospective single-group pre/post design, where participants (400) act as their own controls. They will receive an educational session on CTs provided by a community health educator + a low literacy booklet. Results: Focus groups guided the development of the video script, booklet, and educational materials. The short video features real cancer patients sharing their experience with CTs and how they overcame common barriers. Patient recruitment starts in August 2022. Preliminary results will be presented. Conclusions: Multilevel interventions involving culturally tailored decision aids (i.e., online video, low literacy booklet) in combination with care coordination by a PN can effectively address common barriers influencing patient decision-making regarding CTs, raise awareness, and increase positive attitudes and CT participation among specific groups with low participation in clinical research. Keywords: health equity, clinical trials, Latinos, underrepresented groups Citation Format: Patricia Chalela, Vivian Cortez, Armida Flores, Sandra Sivak, Ysabel Lew, Edgar Munoz, Cliff Despres, Callie Rainosek, Alyssa Gonzalez, Amara Ali, Ruben Mesa, Amelie Ramirez. Multilevel, Multicomponent Intervention to Improve Informed Decision-Making about Clinical Trial Participation among Cancer Patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-05-22.

A Student-Centered, Entrepreneurship Development (ASCEND) Undergraduate Summer Research Program: Foundational Training for Health Research.

Increasing the participation of students of African descent and other minoritized populations in the scientific workforce is imperative in generating a more equitable biomedical research infrastructure and increasing national research creativity and productivity. Undergraduate research training programs have shown to be essential tools in retaining underrepresented minority (URM) students in the sciences and attracting them into STEM and biomedical careers. This paper describes an innovative approach to harness students' entrepreneurial desire for autonomy and creativity in a Summer Research Institute (SRI) that has served as an entry point into a multiyear, National Institutes of Health Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (NIH BUILD)-funded research training program. The SRI was designed as an 8-week, student-centered and course-based research model in which students select their own research topics. We test here the effects of SRI training on students' science self-efficacy and science identity, along with several other constructs often associated with academic outcomes in the sciences. The data shown here comprise analysis of four different training cohorts throughout four subsequent summers. We show significant gains in students' science self-efficacy and science identity at the conclusion of SRI training, as well as academic adjustment and sense of belonging. SRI participants also displayed substantially improved retention in their science majors and graduation rates.

Improving participation of under-represented minorities in breast cancer therapeutic trials in a safety-net system.

90 Background: Racial and ethnic minorities remain under-represented in cancer clinical trials. Strategies to improve access and participation of diverse populations in clinical trials is therefore a key step to improve outcomes and eliminate disparities. Methods: Parkland Health (PH) is the safety-net system for Dallas County, Texas, and is affiliated with the UT Southwestern/Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC). Trial operations at PH is mainly supported by a dedicated team of SCCC research coordinators. Interventions employed to increase minority access and accruals were focused on optimizing the portfolio, increasing provider awareness, and enhanced screening. A bilingual research patient navigator was also added to the research team to improve patient education and engagement. Transportation and childcare assistance are routinely provided for patients at PH. Accrual data for 2021, compared to 2017-2020, is presented here. Results: The majority (73%) of breast cancer patients at PH are uninsured and 88% belong to racial/ethnic minorities (57% Hispanics, 31% Blacks). Of the 15 therapeutic breast cancer trials open at SCCC in 2021, 12 (80%) were open at PH. The PH breast cancer trial portfolio included 4 cooperative group, 5 industry-sponsored (ISTs), and 3 investigator-initiated studies (IITs). Four trials were in metastatic setting and 8 were in curative intent setting. Four trials required a genomic biomarker. Forty-three patients were enrolled in therapeutic trials at PH in 2021. This represents 10.3% (43/418) of new cases during the same time period. Thirty-two were enrolled in cooperative group studies, 10 in IITs, and 1 in ISTs. The majority (93%) of the trial participants belonged to under-represented minorities. Number of trial participants in 2021 increased by 48% compared to the best year in the past 5 years (29 patients enrolled in 2018). Conclusions: Collaboration between academic institutions and safety-net systems presents a unique opportunity to provide clinical trial options to under-represented minorities. In this setting, interventions to improve trial portfolio, provider awareness, screening process, and patient education, as well as addition of a patient research navigator resulted in a significant increase in the number of minority participants in breast cancer trials at our safety-net hospital.

Equitable Representation of Latinos in Clinical Research Is Needed to Achieve Health Equity in Cancer Care.

Identify key barriers that keep Latinos from participating in clinical trials (CTs) and interventions proven effective in increasing their representation in clinical research. Utilize our own extensive research experience and review the literature to: identify key barriers, summarize strategies that have been proven effective in increasing Latino representation in CTs, issue a call to action for programs/practices and practitioners to implement what is proven effective, and make recommendations for further research to address current gaps. Participation barriers are complex, multifactorial, and exist at different levels, including study design (eg, protocol complexity, patient exclusion criteria, trial duration and frequency), healthcare system barriers (eg, lack of minority staff), patient-related factors (eg, lack of awareness, low health literacy, language, social determinants of health [SDoH]), and medical team issues (eg, lack of cultural competence, lack of referrals, implicit bias, provider/patient communication). Research has shown that the most effective strategies to increase participation of underrepresented minorities in CTs include culturally sensitive educational tools aimed at community members, patients, and physicians, and strategies to address the multiple SDoH and other barriers to participation facing cancer patients and the factors that influence patient decision-making. Raising awareness or offering clinical trials to everyone will not alone increase Latino participation. Other key barriers at different levels must also be addressed, especially SDoH and patients' contextual factors. To achieve equitable participation of Latinos and other underrepresented groups in clinical research, comprehensive approaches that address interrelated multilevel and multifactorial barriers to participation can produce a substantial, sustained impact-ensuring everyone equitably benefits from scientific advances in cancer treatment, improved cancer outcomes and quality of life, and reduced health care costs.

Trends in Racial and Ethnic Representation Among Neurosurgery Applicants and Residents: A Comparative Analysis of Procedural Specialties

Diversity, equity, and inclusion within the healthcare workforce are conducive to providing culturally competent care. However, few existing studies have assessed the level of racial and ethnic diversity among resident physicians and residency applicants. Our objective was to provide a comparative analysis of the trends in racial and ethnic representation within different subspecialties in medicine. Using data from the American Association of Medical Colleges and the Journal of the American Medical Association, we evaluated the racial and ethnic identification of residency applicants and current residents in 9 procedural-focused specialties from 2005 to 2019 and performed a descriptive analysis to compare the different levels of racial and ethnic diversity in these specialties. Among the specialties analyzed during the study period, neurosurgery had the greatest magnitude of differences between Black/African-American residency applicants and current residents. The percentage of Black/African-American applicants was 92% greater than that of Black/African-American residents (10% of applicants vs. 5.2% of residents). In contrast, the percentage of White neurosurgery residents was 17.6% greater than that of White neurosurgery applicants (53.9% of applicants vs. 63.4% of residents). Similar trends were noted in all the specialties evaluated. Obstetrics and gynecology demonstrated the least disparity between Black/African-American applicants and residents (13.7% of applicants vs. 10.2% of residents; 35.4% difference). Hispanic and Asian representation varied widely between specialties. Among the surveyed specialties, neurosurgery demonstrated the greatest disparity between the percentage of Black/African-American residency applicants and current residents. To further drive progress in this domain, we advocate for a series of initiatives designed to increase underrepresented minority participation in neurosurgery practice and scholarship.

Abstract IA-51: If not now, then when? Tackling barriers to clinical trials to ensure inclusion of underrepresented minorities

Abstract The low representation of underrepresented minorities in clinical trials is well known. Unfortunately, there appears to be modest progress in the inclusion of these groups in the nearly 30 years since the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993. Racial and ethnic diversity in clinical trials is imperative for ensuring that novel cancer therapies, behavioral interventions and other types of scientific advances reach and are relevant to all population segments. It will be impossible to eliminate disparities and achieve health equity without diversity and inclusion in clinical research. Many barriers exist to clinical trials and some may be exacerbated among racial/ethnic minorities. This presentation will discuss multilevel barriers to participation in clinical research, share engagement principles related to partnerships with African American/Black and Latino/Latinx populations, and provide lessons learned from institutional and investigator led-initiatives. Data sources include chart reviews, patient interviews and surveys. Selected clinical studies will be discussed along with qualitative and quantitative data. The overall goal is to identify actionable steps towards a collective path of improving minority participation in clinical trials. Strategies that optimize opportunities for system change may have greater impact than strategies that focus solely on patient and/or community attitudes or behaviors. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, public awareness about clinical trials may be at a record high. Thus, community conversations about science and the clarion call for social justice may be the energy needed for cancer scientists to collaborate and change the narrative regarding participation of underrepresented minorities in research. Citation Format: Vanessa B. Sheppard. If not now, then when? Tackling barriers to clinical trials to ensure inclusion of underrepresented minorities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr IA-51.

Pathways to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Marine Science and Conservation

Marine conservation sciences have traditionally been, and remain, non-diverse work environments with many barriers to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). These barriers disproportionately affect entry of early career scientists and practitioners and limit the success of marine conservation professionals from under-represented, marginalized, and overburdened groups. These groups specifically include women, LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). However, the issues also arise from the global North/South and East/West divide with under-representation of scientists from the South and East in the global marine conservation and science arena. Persisting inequities in conservation, along with a lack of inclusiveness and diversity, also limit opportunities for innovation, cross-cultural knowledge exchange, and effective implementation of conservation and management policies. As part of its mandate to increase diversity and promote inclusion of underrepresented groups, the Diversity and Inclusion committee of the Society for Conservation Biology-Marine Section (SCB Marine) organized a JEDI focus group at the Sixth International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC6) which was held virtually. The focus group included a portion of the global cohort of IMCC6 attendees who identified issues affecting JEDI in marine conservation and explored pathways to address those issues. Therefore, the barriers and pathways identified here focus on issues pertinent to participants’ global regions and experiences. Several barriers to just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive conservation science and practice were identified. Examples included limited participation of under-represented minorities (URM) in research networks, editorial biases against URM, limited professional development and engagement opportunities for URM and non-English speakers, barriers to inclusion of women, LGBTQ+, and sensory impaired individuals, and financial barriers to inclusion of URM in all aspects of marine conservation and research. In the current policy brief, we explore these barriers, assess how they limit progress in marine conservation research and practice, and seek to identify initiatives for improvements. We expect the initiatives discussed here to advances practices rooted in principles of JEDI, within SCB Marine and, the broader conservation community. The recommendations and perspectives herein broadly apply to conservation science and practice, and are critical to effective and sustainable conservation and management outcomes.

Big Data in Conservation Genomics: Boosting Skills, Hedging Bets, and Staying Current in the Field.

A current challenge in the fields of evolutionary, ecological, and conservation genomics is balancing production of large-scale datasets with additional training often required to handle such datasets. Thus, there is an increasing need for conservation geneticists to continually learn and train to stay up-to-date through avenues such as symposia, meetings, and workshops. The ConGen meeting is a near-annual workshop that strives to guide participants in understanding population genetics principles, study design, data processing, analysis, interpretation, and applications to real-world conservation issues. Each year of ConGen gathers a diverse set of instructors, students, and resulting lectures, hands-on sessions, and discussions. Here, we summarize key lessons learned from the 2019 meeting and more recent updates to the field with a focus on big data in conservation genomics. First, we highlight classical and contemporary issues in study design that are especially relevant to working with big datasets, including the intricacies of data filtering. We next emphasize the importance of building analytical skills and simulating data, and how these skills have applications within and outside of conservation genetics careers. We also highlight recent technological advances and novel applications to conservation of wild populations. Finally, we provide data and recommendations to support ongoing efforts by ConGen organizers and instructors-and beyond-to increase participation of underrepresented minorities in conservation and eco-evolutionary sciences. The future success of conservation genetics requires both continual training in handling big data and a diverse group of people and approaches to tackle key issues, including the global biodiversity-loss crisis.

Abstract CT158: Addressing the clinical trial participation of underrepresented minorities at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCC) through the National Outreach Network Community Health Educator (NON-CHE) Program

Abstract Introduction: Certain cancer rates disproportionately affects Hispanic/Latinas, indigenous women from Latin America (Amerindians, Mayans, Mixtecs, Zapotecs, Nahua-Pipil), African Americans, and other underrepresented minorities (URMs) in Los Angeles County (LAC). Some of the barriers these minorities face such as socioeconomic status, language, and other systemic barriers cause greater disparities among them which contributes to a tendency of lower participation rates in Clinical Trials (CTs). Partnerships with the Lazarex Cancer Foundation through Project IMPACT - Improving Patient Access to Cancer Clinical Trials- were created to support the financial and patient navigation for underrepresented minority participation in CTs at USC NCCC. Currently, 68% percent of overall patients enrolled in clinical trials at USC Norris are URMs which is reflective of the USC Norris catchment area. Also, 74% percent of participants in Project IMPACT are URMs which shows the benefits of a culturally responsive approach to patient engagement. The NON-CHE program at USC NCCC focuses on a culturally and language specific based approach to increase CTs awareness and enrollment in underrepresented minorities. Methods: To foster CTs participation and to address these disparities, the NON-CHE conducts outreach, education, and engagement efforts in LAC, the catchment area of the USC Norris. Health education interventions are delivered in interactive community research meetings and their effectiveness assessed through CTs related pre-and post-test surveys and at 3-months and 6-months following attendance. Partnerships with the Lazarex Cancer Foundation/Project IMPACT will be used to recruit and refer patients to existing CTs at USC Norris. Education materials developed and culturally adapted will help convey messages in Spanish and indigenous language and in culturally appropriate ways using infographics, presentations, and focus groups to test educational/outreach materials for cultural appropriateness, literacy, and numeracy levels. Results: A total of 28 monthly outreach activities have been conducted since the beginning of the program (November 2019) with Latinx and other minority groups sharing information on cancer related programs and clinical trials at USC Norris. Conclusion: Improving access to information on CTs participation may be more effective if culture, language, and systemic barriers affecting the underrepresented minorities in the catchment area of the USC Norris are taken into account. Citation Format: Lourdes Baezconde, Juan Carmen, Carolina Aristizabal. Addressing the clinical trial participation of underrepresented minorities at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCC) through the National Outreach Network Community Health Educator (NON-CHE) Program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr CT158.

Abstract B052: Use of video education interventions to increase underrepresented minority cancer survivor participation in clinical trials: A review

Abstract Background Less than 5% of eligible adult cancer survivors participate in cancer clinical trials. Compared to 1.2% of non-Hispanic Whites, underrepresented minority (URM) survivors are less likely to participate in clinical trials (0.7% of Blacks, P < .001; 0.4% of Hispanics, P < .001). Yet, URMs experience disparities in cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Clinical trials need adequate URM representation in samples to generalize findings for reduction of cancer disparities. There is a critical need to identify interventions that increase URM participation in clinical trials. Common barriers to URM participation are lack of knowledge, lack of access, fear, and mistrust. Thus, educating URM survivors about clinical trials with videos may be an effective intervention. The purpose of this systematic review was to understand the use of video education interventions to increase URM survivor participation in clinical trials. Methods In October 2018, the authors searched Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases for all articles that described or tested video interventions aimed at increasing adult, URM survivor participation in clinical trials. Two authors independently screened articles for inclusion, appraised quality, and abstracted relevant data. All authors synthesized the data into themes. Results The search yielded 2,518 articles. Of these, seven articles describing six distinct interventions met criteria for inclusion. Quality of the included studies appraised as fair to good. Though the six interventions reduced barriers to participation in clinical trials, they reported variable findings on readiness to enroll and/or actual participation of Black and Hispanic survivors of various cancers (largely breast). Five themes emerged: 1) cultural sensitivity application in video development and delivery; 2) video content aimed to educate and change attitudes about clinical trials; 3) video interventions were feasible but lacked power to detect effects; 4) predictors of readiness and participation within URMs were not consistently related to socioeconomic factors; and 5) racially congruent clinical trial coordinators, along with videos, may yield more favorable intervention effects. Conclusions Video interventions are well-received by URM survivors and may improve URM representation in clinical trials, yet they are underutilized. With widening cancer disparities and rapidly changing cancer care, more rigorous studies are needed to establish best practices for video interventions used to increase URM participation in clinical trials. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Timiya S. Nolan, Ya-Ning Chan, Ashley Leak Bryant, Jennifer S. Walker, Ana' M. Bell, Rachel Hirschey. Use of video education interventions to increase underrepresented minority cancer survivor participation in clinical trials: A review [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B052.

Abstract IA16: Lessons learned from seventeen years of cancer research experiences program for under-represented high school and college students

Abstract Background/Purpose: Increasing participation of under-represented minorities (URMs) in cancer-related fields is critical for eliminating disparities in prevention, incidence, prevalence, detection, treatment, survival, and mortality. Early engagement in scientific research is linked to retention of students in STEM programs and careers. Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) is one of the largest consortium comprehensive cancer centers in the world. As part of the mission to find new and innovative ways to combat cancer and eliminate cancer disparities in communities throughout the Northeast, we are shaping the development of a new, diverse, and educated workforce through the Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) program. CURE introduces high-school and college students from URM populations to the world of cancer research. The program aims to increase URMs successfully pursuing careers in biomedicine, cancer research, and/or health disparities, pursuing graduate degrees and/or professional training in these areas, and engaging in scholarly activity. Initially funded through a cancer center supplement, during the past two years DFHCC has expanded their programming by successfully obtaining two NCI R25 grants, Young Empowered Scientists for ContinUed Research Engagement (YES for CURE) Program (NCI CA221738) and Summer Program to Advance Research Careers (SPARC) Program (NCI CA214256). Description: DF/HCC has engaged over 400 students in research experiences at its seven-member institutions. Building on a 17-year history of research training experience and a long-term partnership with the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMB), DF/HCC created programming that combines hands-on research experiences with professional development seminars, journal clubs, book clubs, social events, and individual project planning. Evaluation: Students and mentors are surveyed each summer to identify opportunities for improvement. We also track academic and professional progress of our alumni annually. Usefulness: Based on our 2017 survey with a 71% average response rate, 95% of our alumni have completed or are currently enrolled in post-secondary programs, with 72% completing college degrees so far. Of these, 83% graduated with STEM or health science degrees and 23% have additionally completed graduate degrees. Over two thirds of our alumni are currently working full- or part-time in STEM-related fields and almost 25% in cancer-related work. 15% are working in a health disparities-related field. Our alumni have coauthored more than 243 scientific publications. Our research education and training successfully engage the scientific curiosity and promote the academic success and future research careers of promising young URM scientists. Learning Objectives: The participant shall be able to learn best practices for engaging high school and college students from under-represented backgrounds in hands-on cancer research. References E. De Chubin and AL DePass, editors. Understanding interventions that broaden participation in science careers. In Understanding Interventions, San Diego, CA, 2015. K. Maton, T. Beason, S. Godsay, M. Sto. Domingo, T. Bailey, S. Sun and F. Hrabowski. Outcomes and processes in the Meyerhoff Scholars Research Program: STEM PhD Completion, Sense of Community, Perceived Program Benefit, Science Identity, and Research Self-Efficacy. CBE–Life Sciences Education 15: 3 (Ar48), 2016. M. Ghee, M. Keels, D. Collins, C. Neal-Spence and E. Baker. Fine-tuning summer research programs to promote underrepresented students' persistence in the STEM pathway. CBE-Life Sciences Education 15: 3 (Ar28), 2016. Citation Format: Karen Burns White, Emily McMains, Diedra Wrighting, Joan Becker, Kathynie Hinds. Lessons learned from seventeen years of cancer research experiences program for under-represented high school and college students [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr IA16.

Taking the next step: supporting postdocs to develop an independent path in academia

BackgroundIn the USA, 28.5% of the population is considered underrepresented minority (URM) population; however, fewer than 8 % of US’ research faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines are minorities (National Research Council, Expanding underrepresented minority participation: America’s science and technology talent at the crossroads, 2011). In order to diversify the faculty, Big Ten Academic Alliance’s Professorial Advancement Initiative (PAI) provided high-quality professional development for URM postdocs across multiple institutions. This study is part of the larger PAI project and examined the goals and experiences of URM postdoctoral fellows in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. In addition, we investigated the influence of a professional development workshop on postdocs’ self-efficacy to pursue grants, improve relationship with their mentor, and apply for academic jobs.ResultsOur findings suggest that URM postdocs face a number of challenges in their position and lack the confidence, knowledge, and skills to pursue a career in academia. Our professional development workshops focused on developing postdocs’ skills to pursue faculty positions significantly increased their self-efficacy in grant writing, improving relationship with their mentor, and applying for academic jobs.ConclusionOur findings have important implications for postdoctoral training and providing professional development opportunities for minority postdocs in order to diversify the faculty in STEM disciplines. Future research should examine the long-term influence of workshops to prepare postdocs to pursue and be successful in academia.

Clinical trial enrollment in patients with endocrine neoplasm: Parity achievable, but cancer type-specific

BackgroundWe sought to assess participation of underrepresented minorities with endocrine neoplasms in clinical trials conducted in the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Intramural Research Program. MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of patients enrolled in Endocrine Oncology Branch (EOB) clinical trials, comparing demographics to regional and national demographics. We compared specific endocrine cancer patient data to data from NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. ResultsComparing EOB patients to national demographics, we found more white (77% vs 74%, P < 0.001) and black patients (14% vs 12%, P < 0.001). For thyroid cancer, there were more black (16% vs 7%, P < 0.0001) and other minority patients (17% vs 11%, P < 0.0001) compared to SEER. For gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEPNETs), there were fewer black (6% vs 19%, P < 0.0001) and other minority patients (6% vs 8%, P < 0.0001). ConclusionEnrollment parity of underrepresented minorities into clinical trials is achievable, although possibly cancer type-specific.

PA program characteristics and diversity in the profession.

The primary objective of this study was to identify PA program characteristics that may be associated with higher or lower percentages of underrepresented minority students in PA programs. Data from the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) 2002-2003 and 2012-2013 annual surveys were analyzed. Bivariate correlation coefficients and multiple regression modeling were used to identify relationships between program characteristics and percentages of black and Hispanic students. The percentage of white matriculants in PA programs increased from 76.5% in 2002-2003 to 81.8% in 2012-2013; the percentage of black students decreased from 6.2% to 4.4%. Multiple linear regression revealed a modest negative relationship between master's degree and percentage of underrepresented minority students and a modest positive relationship between percentages of underrepresented minority employees and underrepresented minority students. Further research is needed to identify strategies to increase underrepresented minority participation in healthcare professions programs.

AAAS at the Forefront of Cultivating the Next Generation of STEM Professionals

Event Abstract Back to Event AAAS at the Forefront of Cultivating the Next Generation of STEM Professionals Iris Wagstaff1* 1 American Association For The Advancement of Science, United States It has been well documented that the U.S. is not producing enough STEM majors and professionals to fill the job demands of the current and future workforce (Carnevale, Smith & Melton, 2011; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine, 2007). This problem is heightened with respect to women and racial minorities who continue to be underrepresented (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine, 2011; National Science Foundation, 2017). To maintain competitiveness in a global economy, the U. S. must leverage ALL of its human capital. This requires creating educational and career pathways to develop the talent needed to advance areas of health, energy, and national security. To this end, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) – the oldest and largest multi-discipline scientific association in the world - develops and supports STEM education initiatives through its Education and Human Resources Division (EHR). The three-pronged foci of the EHR division is scientific literacy, broadening participation in STEM, and developing the STEM workforce. This presentation will highlight some of these efforts that include: 1) the Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in STEM for undergraduate and graduate STEM majors to present their research and participate in skills development, 2) Science NetLInks, which provides online K-12 lessons, tools, and resources for students, parents, and teachers, 3) Science in the Classroom – a collection of freely available annotated research papers from the Science family of journals, 4) GSK in the Summer – A hands-on science program for elementary school children offered in community-based organizations in the DC metro area and in 20 other cities across the U.S., and 5) the STEM Volunteers Program – an organization of STEM professionals who volunteer in K-12 classrooms in the Washington DC metro area. Outcomes and impact of the ERN Conference and support of chemistry students will be highlighted in detail. Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge NSF for funding the Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM - Grant No. 1645036, Shirley Malcom - Director of the Education and Human Resources (EHR) Unit of AAAS, and Yolanda George - Deputy Director of EHR. References Carnevale, A., Smith, N., & Melton, M. (2011). Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM). Retrieved from https://1gyhoq479ufd3yna29x7ubjn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/stem-complete.pdf National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/11463. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2011. Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America's Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12984. National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. 2017. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2017. Special Report NSF 17-310. Arlington, VA. Retrieved from www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/. Keywords: stem, Education, NSF, ERN, Broadening participation in STEM, diversity Conference: National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) 45th Annual Conference , Orlando, Florida, United States, 17 Sep - 20 Sep, 2018. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: STEM Citation: Wagstaff I (2019). AAAS at the Forefront of Cultivating the Next Generation of STEM Professionals. Front. Chem. Conference Abstract: National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) 45th Annual Conference . doi: 10.3389/conf.fchem.2018.01.00060 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 19 Oct 2018; Published Online: 17 Jan 2019. * Correspondence: Dr. Iris Wagstaff, American Association For The Advancement of Science, Washington D.C., United States, irisrwag@yahoo.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Iris Wagstaff Google Iris Wagstaff Google Scholar Iris Wagstaff PubMed Iris Wagstaff Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

The Minorities Affairs Committee of the American Society for Cell Biology-Fostering the Professional Development of Scientists from Underrepresented Minority Backgrounds.

As part of its mission, the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) works to increase diversity in the scientific workforce, in part through the work of its Minorities Affairs Committee. It is for this reason that the ASCB was happy to welcome the special September 2016 issue of CBE—Life Sciences Education (LSE) focused on broadening participation. As a response to this special issue, we update our ASCB community and LSE readership on the society’s efforts to broaden participation of underrepresented minorities in the biological sciences.

Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America's Science and Tecnology Talent at the Crossroads

Over the last few years, the national push to have a properly trained science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce has been at the forefront of the nation’s top priority list. In a recent report to the President, Engage to Excel: Producing One-Million Additional College Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, President Barak Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (2012) offered five recommendations to address this priority. Recommendation 3 was to “launch a national experiment in postsecondary mathematics education to address the mathematics-preparation gap” (p. 27); Recommendation 4 was to “encourage partnerships among stakeholders to diversify pathways to STEM careers” (p. 30). These initiatives mirror Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America's Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads, which aimed to address the need to strengthen the U.S. STEM workforce with diversity and the inclusion of underrepresentation minorities at the forefront of its mission.