Community Outreach Core

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PROJECT SUMMARY Community Outreach Core TUFCCC Co-Leader: Yin Tan, MD, MPH HC Co-Leader: Ming-Chin Yeh, PhD Evelyn Gonzalez, MA Marilyn A. Fraser, MD Early detection for cancer screening has long been established as an effective tool to reducing the cancer burden; however, utilization of these services by underserved racial and ethnic minorities (UREM) continues to be disproportionate. For example, breast cancer (BC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening remains low among African American (AA), Asian Pacific American (APA), and Hispanic American (HA) populations. These pre-existing disparities were further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementing culturally tailored evidence-based cancer screening interventions to foster BC and CRC screening re-engagement through community engagement and capacity building in underserved AA, APA, and HA communities is crucial. In addition, up to 10% of all cancers may be caused by inherited genetic profiles. In recent days, genetic/genomic testing for cancer risk assessment and treatment has been widely utilized clinically for cancer early detection, diagnosis and treatment. However, the testing rates remain low in racial/ethnical minority populations as they often face challenges and systemic barriers of social determinants of health, such as language barriers, low health literacy, poor awareness and knowledge about genetic/genomic testing, and medical mistrust. Overcoming these barriers to raise awareness and to increase testing is vital. Thus, building on the success of our current funding cycle (2018-2023) in collaboration with TUFCCC/HC Partnership investigators and community partners in the PA-NJ-New York City (PNN) region, the COC aims to use community-engaged approach to addressing systemic barriers and promoting inclusion in accessing evidence-based interventions on cancer screenings and genetic testing among underserved and understudied AA, APA and HA populations. Specifically, the overall goals of the proposed COC are to: (1) engage the community in cancer outreach and sustain cancer screening programs within the communities we serve, (2) support U54 investigators/ESIs/Trainees on community-based cancer research through building and maintaining sustainable CBPR infrastructure; and (3) facilitate and enhance bi-directional communication between TUFCCC/HC investigators and community.