Abstract 1069: Establishing the national Latino network (NLN): advancing Hispanic/Latino researchers in addressing precision medicine and health disparities through the All of Us research hub
Authors: Natalie M. Alamo, Mariola Acosta, Olveen Carrasquillo, Mary H. Mays, Vivian Colon
Journal: Cancer Research (2025)

Abstract Introduction: Hispanic and Latino populations are among the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the United States (US), currently comprising 18.9% of the population. Despite this growth, these groups remain significantly underrepresented in biomedicine and data sciences. Many Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) face infrastructure and resource limitations, hindering their ability to provide robust training in bioinformatics and related fields. This lack of capacity limits the development of professionals equipped to address health disparities through advanced research and innovation. The All of Us Research Program (AoURP) is emerging as a critical resource for studying Latino health issues and a valuable genomic data repository for precision medicine research. Hispanic/Latino leadership in these efforts requires targeted training and specialized support to analyze AoU data effectively. Objective: The National Latino Network (NLN), led by the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UPRCCC) in collaboration with nationwide partnerships institutions, aims to enhance engagement with the AoU Research Hub (AoURH) by providing technical support, training, and capacity building to students and researchers, with a focus on Hispanic and Latino populations. Methods: Key milestones within the NLN to increase researcher engagement include conducting outreach events, supporting HSIs in obtaining Data Use Agreements (DUAs), providing technical assistance with the Research Workbench and programming languages, and launching the Hispanic Mentorship Program (HMP) to offer structured mentorship, funding, and training opportunities. Additionally, a National Advisory Board (NAB) was established to ensure program effectiveness and sustainability. Results: In only 3 months, the NLN successfully enrolled ten students and investigators in the HMP and identified four Independent Project Program (IPP) candidates for pilot project funding. Through the NLN service form, the team provided services to 11 unique users, offering a total of 26 consultations. Of these, 36% were external users, while 64% were internal HMP participants, primarily seeking support in programming and data analysis (47.8%). Two NLN Scholars and three researchers in training are conducting research projects using the AoU data with the support of the NLN team. Future Directions: The NLN will continue expanding the HMP and increasing enrollment through a national virtual journal club, training webinars in R studio with application to the Workbench, and outreach activities at the local and national levels. Efforts will prioritize enhancing technical support, mentorship, and researcher engagement with the AoURH, focusing on topics addressing health disparities within Hispanic/Latino populations. Funding: NIH grant 1OT2OD037880. Citation Format: Natalie M. Alamo, Mariola Acosta, Olveen Carrasquillo, Mary H. Mays, Vivian Colon. Establishing the national Latino network (NLN): advancing Hispanic/Latino researchers in addressing precision medicine and health disparities through the All of Us research hub [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 1069.