Community Outreach and Engagement

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The University of Kentucky (UK) Markey Cancer Center (MCC) embraces the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky as its catchment area. Despite notable recent advances, Kentucky has the highest all-site cancer incidence and mortality in the U.S., driven largely by socioeconomic, geographic and racial/ethnic inequities. With a 47-year history, the goal of MCC Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) is to engage communities, practitioners and researchers in mutually beneficial collaborations to accelerate health equity and reduce the burden of cancer. MCC’s long-standing COE programs include regionally-based community outreach, management of the state’s cancer coalition and policy efforts, and the MCC Affiliate Network (MCCAN), MCC’s innovative clinical outreach program with 19 community-based (non-UK) hospitals across the state. Since 2018, MCC made strategic investments to enhance COE strengths and further integrate research and cancer control. COE’s previous needs assessment shaped the FY19-23 MCC Research Priorities. Key accomplishments include conducting the 2021 Kentucky Cancer Needs Assessment (KY CNA), launching new research engagement initiatives (e.g., Community Impact Ambassadors as Research Program liaisons, Research Advocacy Program, Clinical Trial Referral Ambassadors, internal COE funding) and cancer control activities with extensive reach (e.g., training/technical assistance, policy changes, individual education, facilitating access to services). Building on existing efforts and FY24-28 MCC Research Priorities, COE Specific Aims are to: 1) Monitor cancer burden and disparities in Kentucky and identify community-driven priorities. In addition to monitoring cancer burden and disparities and conducting the next KY CNA in 2026, each year COE will carry out a focused needs assessment on a specific population to address data gaps and disparities identified in the 2021 KY CNA. 2) Foster impactful research that responds to community needs and promotes equity. COE will expand the Research Advocacy Program with a training module for basic and clinical researchers and “Rapid Feedback Sessions.” COE will add two new strategies to facilitate clinical trial participation: providing culturally appropriate patient and community education, including testimonial videos, and assisting studies prioritized for underrepresented minority accruals through consultations and diverse research advocate feedback. 3) Disseminate and implement sustainable evidence-based guidelines, practices and policies. COE is currently using the 2021 KY CNA to guide development of the state’s new five-year Cancer Action Plan. Next COE will assess its portfolio of community cancer control programs to strategically realign them with the new state plan to address gaps, leverage partnership opportunities and maximize impact. IMPACT: COE has made important advances in synergizing MCC research and cancer control efforts with statewide partners and significant contributions to population-level improvements in colon and lung cancer screening and outcomes, smoking and HPV vaccination. COE is poised to further accelerate MCC impact.