Abstract A1: NCI CRCHD Geographic and Biospecimen Science Management Programs (G/BMaP): An innovative approach to reducing cancer health disparities through catalyzing interinstitutional collaborations

Objective: The Geographic & Biospecimen Science Management Programs (G/BMaP) group cancer health disparity (CHD) research/outreach efforts by geographic region. The goal is to create a regional network wherein resources can be pooled to facilitate the reduction of CHDs through inter-institutional collaborations. Region 1 (DC, MD, VA, WV) includes 14 universities/institutions. The George Washington University Cancer Institute is the Region 1 GMaP coordinating hub and Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center is the BMaP (Biospecimen Banking for CHD research) coordinating hub. Methods: Region 1 began with a cataloging of institutional resources. Two survey instruments, as well as multiple sub-surveys, were circulated to collect extensive information on institutional interests, resources, and cooperation potential. Resulting data have been summarized within one matrix, which is continually updated and utilized to assess Regional capacity and interest for a variety of research themes. Results: Resource Assessment results indicate particular strengths in Region 1 along three broad “themes”: community outreach/research, clinical/laboratory based sciences, and training. Based on this data, a structure was created to facilitate the pursuit of these strengths-centered on the concept of “collaborative network mechanisms”. These mechanisms serve as organized structures that are able to efficiently respond to initiative opportunities via a Core Committee voting structure. Currently, each collaborative network mechanism has developed initial projects/themes with which to pilot and evaluate this structure: Collaborative Networks for Clinical and Laboratory-based Initiatives (CONCALI): Pursue CHD-oriented clinical and laboratory-based research Develop a web-based and compatible database of de-identified biospecimen data that allows researchers to identify collaborative opportunities for testing hypotheses related to CHDs (Lead: Lucile Adams-Campbell, PhD-Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center) Collaborative Networks for Community Engagement and Research Translation (CONCERT): Meaningfully and equitably engage communities in community translation as well as engage in social/behavioral oncology research Research question: What is the role of patient navigation in health care education, social attitudes, health behavior changes, and participation in clinical trials, biospecimen banking, and cancer risk studies as related to CHDs? (Lead: Steven Patierno, PhD-George Washington University Cancer Institute) Collaborative Networks for Training Initiatives (CONTI): Train the next generation of cancer researchers and cancer-focused health care workers by involving strategies for recruitment, mentorship, and retention of individuals from diverse and underserved populations Expansion of UDC “Cancer Research and Education Academy” (Lead: Deepak Kumar, PhD-University of the District of Columbia) Training Program in Cancer Disparities Research (TPCDR) for Minority Health Care Students (Lead: Ayman Noreddin, PhD, RPh-Hampton University) Regional Postgraduate Mentoring Program (Lead: Jean Ford, MD-Johns Hopkins University) Implications: The Region 1 structure is the product of almost two years of thorough Regional Resource Assessments and inter-institutional collaborative brainstorming. This group effort has resulted in an innovative framework that has the potential to maximize connectivity within Region 1 to facilitate CHD-oriented research, outreach, and training- with the ultimate goal of making a real and meaningful impact on CHDs as a whole. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):A1.