Abstract PO-242: Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity
Authors: Palafox Neal A. , Guerrero Rachael T. Leon , Hernandez Brenda Y. , Hattori-Uchima Margaret , Robinett Hali R. 
Published: January 2022

The Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE) aims to develop cancer and cancer health disparities (CHD) research at the University of Guam (UOG) and the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center (UHCC), focusing on Pacific Island (PI) populations; collaborate with community organizations that work with underrepresented PI populations to promote cancer health equity and enhance opportunities for research training and workforce development; implement evidence-based and culturally-relevant public health interventions and cancer prevention and control strategies with and within underrepresented communities; expand scientific collaboration among PIPCHE members and research faculty at UOG and UHCC, with an emphasis on Early Stage Investigators (ESI) of PI ancestry; and sustain, strengthen, and continuously evaluate the Partnership's activities. An infrastructure comprised of 4 principal investigators, over 30 multidisciplinary faculty, administrative staff, and external and internal reviewers, backed by institutional and NCI support, has supported 18 years of research, training, and outreach designed to reduce CHD and advance health equity among PI in Guam (GU), Hawai‘i (HI), and the U.S. Associated Pacific Islands (USAPI). Since 2009, PIPCHE has funded 26 research projects addressing cancer research priorities of regional and global relevance, including breast, cervical and liver cancers as well as Areca (betel) nut chewing, practiced by 600 million users worldwide and associated with oral pre/carcinoma. Over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts have been published, over 100 abstracts presented, and since 2015, 234 grants secured. To address the underrepresentation of PI in biomedical sciences, the Partnership has supported, trained, and mentored 69 graduate students including 21 undergraduates, 37 master's students (5 of whom went on to pursue a PhD), and 11 students endeavoring towards a doctoral degree. Two PhD graduates are now members of UOG's faculty, conducting CHD research in GU. In addition, ESIs at UOG and UHCC receive mentorship and career development; since 2015, 14 ESIs have received support. Outreach projects have explored community-based participatory approaches to cancer prevention; efforts currently focus on advancing HPV vaccination and colorectal cancer screening, and cultural competency training for health professionals serving PI in GU and HI. Outreach activities have contributed to the introduction and passage of significant cancer prevention and control legislation in Guam and Saipan. Dedicated leadership and longstanding collaborations have led to the development and sustainability of Guam's Cancer Registry and the first NCI Community Oncology Research Program in Guam. In conclusion, the PIPCHE has significantly increased PI-focused cancer and CHD research at UOG and UHCC, underrepresented PI students are pursuing careers in cancer research, and communities are 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: Neal A. Palafox, Rachael T. Leon Guerrero, Brenda Y. Hernandez, Margaret Hattori-Uchima, Hali R. Robinett. Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity [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 PO-242.