Abstract PO-036: University of Guam/University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center Partnership: A seventeen-year investment in cancer health equity in Pacific Islanders
Authors: Guerrero Rachael T. Leon , Hattori-Uchima Margaret , Robinett Hali R. , Vogel Carl-Wilhelm , Palafox Neal A. 
Published: December 2020

The University of Guam (UOG)/University of Hawai‘i 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), Hawai‘i (HI) and the United States Associated Pacific Islands (USAPI), and increase the number of cancer and biomedical science researchers of PI ancestry in the US. An infrastructure comprised of 4 principal investigators, over 30 participating faculty, administrative staff, and external and internal reviewers, backed by institutional support and NCI sponsorship, has supported 17 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 22 cancer research projects addressing cancer research priorities of global and regional relevance, including cervical cancer and Areca (betel) nut chewing - a traditional practice associated with oral pre/carcinoma, affecting 600 million users worldwide. Over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts have been published, over 100 abstracts presented, and 21 grants secured. To address the underrepresentation of PI in biomedical sciences, the Partnership has supported and trained 35 graduate scholars; 23 master’s students at UOG and 12 doctoral students at UH. Two PhD graduates are now faculty members at UOG and engaged in cancer health disparities research. UOG’s Micronesian Studies Program 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; since 2015, 16 early career professionals have received support. Outreach projects have explored community-based participatory approaches to cancer prevention. Youth tobacco use prevention and cessation projects in Guam resulted in landmark tobacco control legislation, decreased tobacco use and increased tobacco taxes, which now sustain cancer programs and patient services in Guam including the Guam Cancer Registry. Current outreach efforts aim to increase colorectal cancer screening and HPV vaccination while building knowledge and awareness among physicians serving PI in GU and HI. Dedicated leadership and longstanding partner collaborations led to the first NCI Community Oncology Research Program site in 2019, providing therapeutic cancer clinical trials in Guam. In conclusion, research capacity at UOG has significantly increased, disparities research at UHCC has expanded, underrepresented PI students are pursuing careers in cancer research, and communities have been engaged in research, training and outreach to advance cancer health equity in HI, GU and the USAPI. Supported by NCI grants U54CA143727 and U54CA143728.

Citation Format: Rachael T. Leon Guerrero, Margaret Hattori-Uchima, Hali R. Robinett, Carl-Wilhelm Vogel, Neal A. Palafox. University of Guam/University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center Partnership: A seventeen-year investment in cancer health equity in Pacific Islanders [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-036.