Abstract 631: Building bridges between communities and cancer researchers through the CaRE2 Health Equity Center Community Scientist Research Advocacy Program
Authors: Carolina Aristizabal, Fern Webb, Sandra Suther, John Luque, Eduardo Ibarra, Nazleen Del Rio, Ileana Guzman, Brooke Hensel, Janet Rodriguez, Rosa Barahona, Mariana Stern, Lourdes A. Baezconde-Garbanati
Journal: Cancer Research (2025)

Abstract Building healthy and trustworthy relationships between communities and researchers is essential for cancer research endeavors. Training community advocates in cancer research can increase capacity among community members to leverage networks, participate in research teams and/or boards, and increase knowledge and insights to I'm prove patient outcomes through increased participation in cancer research. The Florida-California Cancer Research Education and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center designed a Community Scientist Research Advocacy (CSRA) program to inform, educate, and empower community members to become cancer research advocates. Our program was specifically tailored for Black/African American (B/AA) and Hispanic/Latino/a (H/L) adults living in Florida or California. Primary program objectives were to increase human capacity for cancer research advocacy and increase multi-directional communication between cancer advocates with cancer survivors, community members, academic scientists, and policy makers. The CSRA program was delivered over a 10-week period, with a hybrid model compromised of 90% virtual sessions via Zoom to allow for joint participation across the two coasts, and one in-person experiential lab day at each of our three institutions from our partnership. Didactic online learning sessions covered topics including cancers that disproportionately affect medically underserved populations, participation in clinical trials, genomics, social determinants of health, tissue donation/biorepository, and ethics in research studies. Participants completed pre- and post-surveys to assess knowledge, self-efficacy, and program satisfaction and evaluation; and they also completed a mentored advocacy project upon completion of the program. We provided simultaneous Spanish interpretation during all sessions, and materials were translated and provided in both English and Spanish. The 2024 CSRA cohort (N=18) included 12 females and 6 males; 11 were B/AA and 7 were H/L, 11 were from Florida and 7 were from California. Participants were required to attend at least 80% of sessions including one mandatory in-person lab visit activity; leading to a 100% program completion. When comparison pre- and post-attendance surveys, participants showed increases in knowledge (p-value = 0.007) and self-efficacy (p-value = 0.3). Program satisfaction and evaluation were rated as high. In summary, our program demonstrates the effectiveness of training community members to become cancer research advocates to help reduce the burden of inequities in cancer research and care. CSRA programs increase communication between scientists and communities to bring education and awareness about clinical studies and cancer research. Thus, promoting diverse participation in cancer studies, and eventually reducing cancer health disparities. Citation Format: Carolina Aristizabal, Fern Webb, Sandra Suther, John Luque, Eduardo Ibarra, Nazleen Del Rio, Ileana Guzman, Brooke Hensel, Janet Rodriguez, Rosa Barahona, Mariana Stern, Lourdes A. Baezconde-Garbanati. Building bridges between communities and cancer researchers through the CaRE2 Health Equity Center Community Scientist Research Advocacy Program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 631.