Abstract A018: A transdisciplinary team approach to understanding cancer disparities in the transgender/nonbinary population
Authors: Cawthra Tobi , Munson Michael , Cortina Chandler , Pinsoneault Laura , Petroll Andrew , Stolley Melinda 
Published: December 2023

Little data is available about the impact of cancer in the transgender and nonbinary population. However, several known contributors to cancer health disparities- including low SES and discrimination- disproportionately impact transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals. Further, cancer disparities are complex, requiring an approach that engages those with diverse expertise including knowledge of biology, behavior, and the socio-cultural and physical environments. To effectively engage these varied perspectives including those most impacted by cancer disparities, we must continue to increase capacity for community and academic partners to equitably collaborate and create innovative solutions. We propose a process to bridge the gap in understanding between community and academic partners, grow their capacity to collaborate, and build knowledge to create a social action and research agenda, including patient-centered and comparative effectiveness research to reduce TNB cancer disparities. To achieve this, we will form a transdisciplinary (TD) work group with diverse cultural, social, and scientific contexts to engage in a TD collaboration process, facilitating the openness, respect, trust, and stability needed for mutual learning. This work is adapted from previous work of the Community and Cancer Science Network (CCSN), an initiative of the Medical College of Wisconsin to address cancer disparities statewide, that integrates academic and non-academic perspectives through a TD approach in the understanding of cancer disparities and in implementation of solutions. CCSN is grounded in three principles: deep equity, systems thinking, and the integration of biology to policy perspectives. The first step of our process includes creating a diverse TD work group and seeking out new potential partners. We created a stakeholder map to consider the numerous perspectives we must include, or those we could include in other ways to extend reach and knowledge. Following the development of the TD work group, we will focus on facilitating the sharing of information and knowledge among members through an equitable learning space. At the conclusion of this group’s work (18 months), we will produce a draft social action and research agenda which will be shared with community and academic audiences to solicit their feedback and will ultimately contribute to a final plan. In addition to developing a plan, we expect to see changes among group members, including increased trust, cognitive shifts, and a greater understanding of how diverse partners can effectively collaborate. Our TD work group can contribute to understanding factors that influence cancer disparities in the TNB population and achieve positive health outcomes through a TD process that integrates the varied perspectives of those with knowledge of biology, behavior, and the socio-cultural and physical environments, and creates an equitable voice for all participants to contribute to designing viable solutions to eliminate TNB cancer disparities.

Citation Format: Tobi Cawthra, Michael Munson, Chandler Cortina, Laura Pinsoneault, Andrew Petroll, Melinda Stolley. A transdisciplinary team approach to understanding cancer disparities in the transgender/nonbinary population [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 A018.