Project Title: Redes En Acción: The National Hispanic/Latino Cancer Network
Abstract:
Redes En Acción: The National Hispanic/Latino Cancer Network, is a major initiative funded by the NCI that brings together the most extensive collection of organizations ever assembled nationwide to collaborate in the fight against cancer among this country’s Hispanic/Latino populations. The 5-year program is developing a broad-based coalition of cancer research centers, community-based organizations and federal partners to foster a national infrastructure for Hispanic/Latino cancer prevention and control activities. Redes En Acción is utilizing the organizational framework already in place as a result of the NHLIC: En Acción program. Six coordinating centers are in Miami, Brooklyn, San Francisco, San Diego, San Antonio and Chicago.
These Regional Network Centers are linked together through common goals, objectives and synergies, and their cancer research, training and awareness activities are overseen and coordinated by the National Network Center under the direction of Principal Investigator, Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH, in order to reduce the disparate impact of cancer on this nation’s 38 million Latinos. In addition to developing regional network centers, Redes En Acción has established training and research opportunities for Hispanic/Latino students and researchers, fostered research pilot projects on key cancer issues affecting Hispanics, and provided support for cancer awareness activities among Hispanic/Latino communities across the U.S.
The network, with regional partners, was organized and priorities for cancer research, professional and public education, and awareness were determined during Phase I (Year 1). In Phase II (Years 2-3), the priority topics are addressed in research opportunities, professional and public education and advocacy activities. Mentoring is provided for postgraduate and postdoctoral training
and junior scientists through fellowships to focus on research-education needs in each topic area and to work with the network partners to develop proposals for pilot projects. In Phase III (Years 4-5), partnerships for public education and scientific training will continue, as the pilot projects are conducted and proposals for further pilot research are prepared. Evaluation is carried out through network process tracking, assessments of research products, analysis of indicators of career advancement and various studies of education or advocacy outcomes related to priority topics. With annual reviews and adjustments of priorities, the network serves as an ongoing vehicle for involving diverse Hispanic/Latino populations in a comprehensive range of cancer research, training and awareness activities. (For more information about Redes En Acción, click on the logo to visit our web site.)
PI:
- Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH, Professor of Medicine and Deputy Director of the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine
Co-PI's:
- Jose R. Martí, MD, Associate Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College in Brooklyn, New York, (Northeast Regional Network Center: Brooklyn)
- Edward J. Trapido, ScD, Associate Director of the Epidemiology & Genetics Research Program in the Cancer Control and Population Sciences Division at NCI (former Associate Director of the U. of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center) and Frank J. Penedo, PhD, Assistant Professor, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, U. of Miami (Southeast Regional Network Center: Miami).
- Aida L. Giachello, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of Midwest Latino Health Research, Training and Policy Center, U. of Illinois at Chicago (North Central Regional Network Center: Chicago)
- Martha A. Medrano, MD, MPH, Director of Hispanic Center of Excellence at the U. of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (South Central Regional Network Center: San Antonio)
- Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, MD, Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at U. of California, San Francisco (Northwest Regional Network Center: San Francisco)
- Gregory A. Talavera, MD, MPH, Faculty at School of Public Health, Division of Health Promotion at San Diego State U. (Southwest Regional Network Center: San Diego)
Funding Institution:
- National Cancer Institute
- Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, Special Populations Networks (SPN)
Funding Period:
5yrs.– 2000-2005
Location/Service Area:
- National Network Center: Houston and San Antonio, TX
- Regional Sites: San Francisco, CA; San Diego, CA; San Antonio, TX; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; Brooklyn, NY; Washington, D.C. (NHMA partnership)
Collaborators/Co-sponsors:
- Cancer Information Service (CIS)
- National Hispanic Medical Association
- Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
- Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco
- National Institute of General Medicine Sciences
- National Human Genome Research Institute
- NCI Specialized Programs of Research Excellence
- NCI Cancer Genetics Network
- NCI Special Populations Networks
- Women’s Health Initiative
- M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
- San Antonio Cancer Institute
- Cancer Therapy and Research Center
Goals:
- Infrastructure building with underserved and minority community groups, CIS and other relevant entities, such as government agencies and voluntary organizations.
- Establishment of academic and clinical partnerships to support education on clinical trials and promote participation of underserved minority scientists in research.
- Promotion of training opportunities for minority researchers/students, enhancing awareness and utilization of training opportunities.
- Development of pilot projects involving underserved and minority communities.
- Development of research partnerships to compete for research grants in cancer control.
Results:
- Develop national and regional infrastructure
- The National Network Center and 6 regional network centers were established in Y1
- A database of over 1,800 partners has been established
- Establish research opportunities for early career Hispanic scientists
- 54 proposals reviewed through Redes process, 29 pilot projects submitted to NCI, and 16 funded by the NCI, a 55% approval rating
- Two major surveys have been conducted (N=600 with Hispanic community leader and N=760 Primary care physicians serving the Hispanic community)
- 11 new research projects directly generated as a result of Redes have been funded that explore genetics, breast cancer, clinical trials recruitment, energy balance, and cancer survivorship, totaling almost $2 million in funding
- Over $32 million leveraged funding research dollars were generated by the Redes En Acción network through more than 80 regional and national and and/or ongoing projects that Redes researchers are leading or participating in through subcontracts and shared resources
- Establish training opportunities for early career Hispanic scientists
- 131 individuals have received training through the network
- Junior Faculty: 22 funded and 13 unfunded positions
- Internships: 27 funded and 27 unfunded internships
- Pre/Post Doctoral: 24 pre- and post-doctoral positions were paired with on-going research and awareness activities
- Three other extramural training projects have been developed
- - 14 LCAT community leadership seminars on tobacco and alcohol control training trained more than 300 key opinion leaders across the U.S.
- - Community Cancer Ambassador Program trained 20 4th year medical students
- - Science Enrichment Program educated more than 50 students on cancer risk reduction strategies
- Develop cancer awareness activities.
- Over 350,000 newsletters have been distributed
- The redesenaccion.org Web site is operational
- Four Public Service Announcements were nationally distributed to over 700 English and Spanish TV, radio and print channels
- Approximately 500 community events were conducted
- Over 900 professional presentations have been made nationally at conferences/seminars
- Develop RO1 level grant proposals
- 15 Redes pilot investigators have successfully been awarded subsequent grants, including R01, R03, R25, K awards, DOD, CMS, etc. totaling more than $19 million in funding.
Potential Impact:
This study will potentially lead to the development of a national infrastructure aimed at overcoming the barriers to Hispanic cancer awareness, research and training.
Publications:
- Quarterly newsletter, (the Redes Report)
- Buena Vida health magazine (“A guide to family cancer research: does cancer run in your family?”)
- Buena Vida health magazine (“Protecting yourself from cervical cancer”)
- Annual National Steering Committee Reports (Y1, 2, 3, 4)
- Four English and Spanish language Public Service Announcements in video/audio formats. Two have won Telly Awards of Excellence
- Web site: www.redesenaccion.org
- Key Opinion Leader Survey Instrument
- Physicians Survey Instrument
- Redes En Acción Latino Cancer Report (and Executive Summary)
Published Manuscripts:
- Dow K, et al. Latino women and cancer. chapter in Nursing Care of Women with Cancer. butterworth-Heinemann (Eds.), Washington, D.C.: Elsevier Publishers 2006.
- Ramirez AG, Aparicio-Ting FE, San Miguel de Majors SL, Miller AR. Interest, awareness and perceptions of genetic testing among Hispanic family members of breast cancer survivors. Ethnicity & Disease, Spring 2006: 16(2).
- Ramirez AG, Gomez J. Genetics and Latinos: Proceedings of a national summit. Cancer Res. 2005 April 15; 65(8): 2996.
- Ramirez AG, Gallion KJ, Suarez L, Giachello AL, Marti JR, Medrano MA, Pérez-Stable EJ, Talavera GA, Trapido EJ. A national agenda for Latino cancer prevention and control. Cancer 2005 June 1; 103(11): 2209-15.
- Ramirez AG, Gallion K, Pérez-Stable EJ, Talavera G, Marti J, Penedo F, Trapido E, Giachello A, Medrano M. Redes En Acción: Increasing Hispanic Participation in Cancer Research. Journal of the National Cancer Institute; submitted.
- Aparicio-Ting F and Ramirez AG. Breast and cervical cancer knowledge, attitudes and screening practices of Hispanic women diagnosed with cancer. Journal of Cancer Education 2003, Volume 18, Number 4. October 27, 2003.
- Woodruff S, Talavera G, Elder J. Evaluation of a Culturally Appropriate Smoking Cessation Intervention for Latinos. Tobacco Control 2002; 11:361-367.
Manuscripts Under Development:
- Suarez L, Ramirez AG. Hispanic Males Cancer Risk Factors.
- Ramirez AG, Suarez L. Public Participation in Prioritization of Hispanic Cancer Research: Results of the National Survey of Opinion Leaders.
- Ramirez AG, Gallion K, et. al. Redes En Acción: Promoting Hispanic Participation in Cancer Education and Research.
- Ramirez AG, Gallion K, et al. Physicians Perceptions of Clinical Trial Recruitment.
- Pérez-Stable EJ, Ramirez AG, et. al. Physicians Perceptions of Smoking Cessation and Counseling.
- Hughes C, Peterson S, Ramirez AG, Gallion K, McDonald P, Sugg Skinner C, Bowen D. The Art and Science of Minority Recruitment in Cancer Research.
- Bowen D, Olsen S, Gallion K, Ramirez AG. Toward a National Genetics Education Plan: Support from the Cancer Genetics Network.
- Ramirez AG, Gallion K, et. al. Redes En Acción: Training of Young Hispanics Investigators.
- Web site: http://www.redesenaccion.org
