Abstract B164: Sustaining statewide transdisciplinary collaborations to address cancer disparities
Authors: Cawthra Tobi , Pinsoneault Laura , Gardner-Volle Kristen , Krause Alexis , Kinner Kim , Stolley Melinda 
Published: September 2024

Background: Wisconsin’s cancer disparities are evident when considered by race/ethnicity, geography, and socio-economic status. Addressing these disparities requires deeper integration of social and scientific problem-solving and a systems approach. Given the nature of disparities, it also demands that we not just seek equitable outcomes but collaborate in ways that reflect equity in the process. To achieve this, we developed a transdisciplinary approach inclusive of community, clinicians, and researchers and builds capacity to understand, at a deep level, factors that underpin disparities and design newer sustainable solutions. Methods: The Community and Cancer Science Network (CCSN) Integration Hub was established within the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center to provide leadership and capacity building to eight transdisciplinary teams working to address cancer disparities. The Integration Hub and its teams use a co- leadership structure with a community and academic PI as well as a facilitator and evaluator. The Integration Hub has four primary strategies: identifying and addressing knowledge gaps in cancer disparities, building capacity for transdisciplinary collaboration, cultivating networks and relationships, and disseminating through feedback loops that touch communities, academic medicine, and policy. Our approach is grounded in the principles of deep equity, considerations across the biology to policy spectrum, and systems thinking. Results: In its third year, CCSN adapted and adopted tools to understand its effectiveness in building a collaborative environment for transdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving and to set strategy for sustainability. Results from a partner survey administered to team members (n=73) highlighted that the CCSN model contributes to fostering learning conditions that support a strong transdisciplinary approach including a supportive learning environment, concrete learning practices, leadership that reinforces learning and a reflection of core principles as well as embedding a transdisciplinary orientation in team members. The Integration Hub leadership also completed the Organizational Mapping Tool for Coalitions, Alliances and Networks (OMT-CAN) to assess critical dimensions of network health. The assessment helps identify strengths and identify areas for improvements. CCSN network leaders (n=21) rated the network moderate to strong in culture and relationships; joint action, planning, learning and evaluation; and in purpose, goals and strategy. The team further identified the need to work on refining structure, identity and participation; its capacity for strategic communications; and advocacy and organizing. Discussion: To integrate social and scientific problem-solving and address cancer disparities requires the resourcing of credible capacity building networks that can broker equitable relationships between academic medicine and community members and organizations. The CCSN Integration Hub offers a strong model embedded within a cancer center that accomplishes those goals.

Citation Format: Tobi Cawthra, Laura Pinsoneault, Kristen Gardner-Volle, Alexis Krause, Kim Kinner, Melinda Stolley. Sustaining statewide transdisciplinary collaborations to address cancer disparities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B164.