Administrative Core

University Of Utah, Salt Lake City UT

Investigators

Abstract

ADMINISTRATIVE CORE: PROJECT SUMMARY HOPE and CAIRHE 2gether (HC2) is built upon the shared goal of improving cancer prevention services and outcomes in areas characterized by persistent poverty (PP) via “Reach through Equitable Implementation.” HC2 is a partnership between the Center for Health Outcomes and Population Equity (HOPE) at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) and University of Utah (U of U), and the Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity (CAIRHE) at Montana State University (MSU). The HC2 Administrative Core (Admin) is a critical interface among Projects, Cores, and community partners, and between HC2 and the Persistent Poverty Initiative Network (PPIN). HC2’s Admin combines the strengths of two unique centers, HOPE and CAIRHE, to provide leadership, oversight, and evaluation of HC2 as a whole, its Cores, its Projects, and its early career investigator development programs—all in the fulfillment of HC2’s mission to improve cancer prevention and outcomes in areas of PP, especially among populations most impacted in the Mountain West (i.e., American Indian, Latino, rural/frontier). HC2 will become a regional and national leader in health equity research in PP areas, building on our already robust foundation of community partners to expand and maintain a broad collection of healthcare, public health, tribal organizations, and other health equity stakeholders through its Health Equity Network to Address Cancer Prevention in Areas of Persistent Poverty (HC2 Network). HC2 would be the only multidisciplinary center of its kind in the Mountain West and the HC2 Network would be a unique regional resource. Under the leadership of HC2 Multiple Principal Investigators (MPIs) David Wetter, PhD (Contact PI), and Alexandra Adams, MD, PhD, Admin will oversee the progress of the Center’s two Research Projects (Leaders Schlechter, Estabrooks, Wetter, Tomayko, Adams) and Pilot Projects, along with the Cores. Admin will establish and convene a robust Community and Scientific Advisory Board (CSAB) and ensure regular review of all HC2 Projects and Cores by the HC2 Executive Committee and CSAB to ensure HC2’s success. Admin will also conduct community engagement and outreach activities, fostering collaborative partnerships with communities (HC2 Network) in support of the Projects and Cores. Strong leadership, management, and evaluation from Admin will result in more effective Projects and Cores. Moreover, HC2’s Projects and Cores will refine and improve the way health equity research for cancer prevention is practiced in tribal and PP communities regionally and nationally. Through these leadership and organizational efforts, Admin will empower transdisciplinary teams, provide support to early-career investigators, and foster the HC2 Network to enable robust, culturally sensitive community-engaged research addressing cancer prevention and control among populations living in persistent poverty areas. We will leverage existing infrastructure at HCI, U of U, and MSU to maximize the impact of HC2’s Research Projects and community-engagement work.