PhRMA awards $250,000 to community-based projects to improve equitable cancer outcomes

Today, PhRMA announced Collaborative Actions to Reach Equity (CAREs) grant recipients in response to the 2023 call for proposals, “Improving Cancer Outcomes in Diverse Populations.” As part of PhRMA’s continuing commitment to build a more just and equitable health care system, last year’s CAREs grants went towards initiatives which will develop and test scalable and replicable community-driven approaches to close cancer disparities.

Recognizing that each community faces unique barriers, PhRMA established the Collaborative Actions to Reach Equity (CAREs) grant program in April 2020. The CAREs grant program aims to support community-centered solutions to address health inequities through community partnerships. With these awards, PhRMA has awarded a total of nearly $750,000 in CAREs grants to community-based projects to address inequities across a range of health care issues, such as: reducing disparities in the treatment of chronic disease, increasing access to COVID-19 vaccinations in underserved communities, and reducing social and economic barriers health care and medicines.

We are proud to support innovative projects to advance health equity in cancer.  These community-led initiatives are part of PhRMA’s resolve to disrupt the cycle of cancer racial disparities. 

Congratulations to the 2023 PhRMA CAREs Grantees:

ALABAMA| Improving Cancer Outcomes at Alabama HBCU Institutions

Celeste Reese Willis, MD, Medical Director of Doctor Celeste Cares, in collaboration HBCU CARES

The Statewide Alabama Cancer Registry reveals that Black adults in Alabama experience higher rates of cancer-related deaths as compared to White peers. Reaching Black communities in Alabama for cancer prevention and awareness requires collaboration with community-centered organizations and institutions. Alabama encompasses 10% of HBCUs in the country. With PhRMA grant funding, Doctor Celeste Cares will collaborate with HBCU CARES, a not-for-profit consortium of the 14 HBCUs in Alabama, to develop and deliver cancer screenings and wellness clinics (both in-person and virtually) among HBCU students, faculty and the surrounding community members in Alabama. This program aims to establish a replicable model for improving cancer health outcomes in states with HBCUs and similar minority-serving institutions.

"I am elated to receive a grant from PhRMA and to partner with HBCU CARES to further health preventative strategies across Alabama's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)," said Dr. Celeste Reese Willis.

"They say an ounce of prevention goes a long way. Our mission is to positively impact the lives of the students and faculty at Alabama's HBCUs. We also aim to extend our outreach to their families by providing screenings and education that can be shared from one family member to another." – Celeste Reese Willis, MD (pictured above)

CALIFORNIA | Improving Cancer Outcomes in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Communities

Lily Shen, Chief of Staff, Nhien Le, Community Engagement Manager, and Sofia Karimi, Program Manager, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum

Since 2000, cancer has been reported as the leading cause of death among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities – accounting for 27% of all deaths in AANHPI communities. Language barriers, cultural misperceptions, and social stigma surrounding cancer are barriers to improving cancer prevention and outcomes in AANHPI communities. With PhRMA grant funding, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) will collaborate with community-based organizations and community members to develop and distribute culturally and linguistically relevant educational resources about cancer prevention in AANHPI communities in California. Through joint efforts with community-based organizations in California, APIAHF will create tailored campaigns to reach 1) health care workers in a variety of care settings and 2) hard-to-reach uninsured, refugee/immigrant/migrant, and limited English proficient AANHPIs. The program aims to demonstrate best practices to increase the reach of cancer prevention efforts through culturally and linguistically relevant methods.

“Cancer is the leading cause of death for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander populations. Our Partnership with PhRMA’s Collaborative Actions to Reach Equity program will provide culturally and linguistically relevant educational resources that will raise awareness to unmet needs and improve healthcare accessibility by addressing barriers faced by AANHPI populations. The relevant cancer educational resources are not only meaningful but greatly needed in our community.” – Lily Shen (pictured left); Nhien Le and Sofia Karimi, co-investigators are pictured central and right.

MASSACHUETTES | Evaluating the Impact of Racial Color-Blindness among Referring Oncology Clinicians

Jennifer Kim, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, and Keith Maddox, PhD, Professor, Tufts University (Boston, MA)

Communities of color across the United States (U.S.) are enrolled in oncology clinical trials at a rate that is staggeringly lower than their White peers. Emerging research suggests that racial bias among clinicians, who act as gatekeepers to clinical trials, may affect referral of racial minority patients into pivotal clinical trials. With PhRMA grant funding, researchers at Tufts University will investigate how racial bias in the form of racial colorblindness, the belief that race does not matter in how people are treated, impacts healthcare providers’ willingness to refer patients of color into oncology clinical trials in the U.S. The study findings are aimed at inspiring best practices to improve racial sensitivity and awareness of bias among health care providers, and ultimately to close racial disparities in oncology trial enrollment.

Gaps in knowledge and awareness of clinical trials among Americans have been a known factor that contributes to the lack of clinical trial participation, particularly among communities of color in the U.S. However, what largely remains unknown is how bias among clinical trial gatekeepers – those who manage and referral and enrollment process – can contribute to this gap. This project will be among the first to explore and quantify how racial bias among clinical trial stakeholders can impact the referral and enrollment of racial minorities into clinical trials.” – Jennifer Kim, PhD (pictured left); Kenneth Maddox, PhD, co-investigator is pictured right

NEW MEXICO | Breathe Easy Lung Cancer Screening

Tim Tokarski, ED, Executive Director, New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation, Barbara McAneny MD, CEO New Mexico Cancer Center, Robert Lin MD, Clinical Champion

According to the CDC, New Mexico ranks 43rd in high-risk screening with lung screening rates at 1.9% (4.5% national average) and even lower rates in Tribal populations.  Centuries of marginalization of Native Americans and Indigenous communities have created significant challenges to equitable health care outcomes. With PhRMA grant funding, the New Mexico Cancer Center (NMCC) Foundation will collaborate with trusted members in the Navajo Nation / Pueblos, and other marginalized communities to remove barriers to effective lung cancer screening and treatment access. With CAREs grant funding, NMCC Foundation will: 1) provide transportation to free lung cancer screening events in Albuquerque (no co-pay or insurance billing), 2) host health and wellness workshops during screening, 3) develop culturally appropriate materials to foster health care engagement and 4) navigate Tribal members and others with positive screening results to follow-up oncology / pulmonary care. The program aims to showcase best practices for cooperation among public, private, non-profit and Tribal nations to improve health outcomes in under-resourced communities.

“Community trust is a foundational element when engaging marginalized communities.  As a multi-campus community oncology center the New Mexico Cancer Center and the NMCC Foundation is uniquely positioned to develop the partnerships that can advance equitable outcomes.” – Tim Tokarski (pictured left); Barbara McAneny, MD and Robert Lin, MD co-investigators are pictured central and right

NORTH CAROLINA | Targeting Cancer in Black Populations through Mobile Health Initiatives

Jennifer Johnson Edwards, DNP, RN, WHNP, CNE, Interim Associate Dean, Fayetteville State University

One in 10 working age adults in Cumberland County, North Carolina do not have health insurance, and 16% of the population has a household income below the Federal Poverty Line.  With PhRMA grant funding, Fayetteville State University will use a mobile health care clinic to deliver education and cancer screening materials using a National Cancer Institute-validated, evidence-based approach. Fayetteville State University will also work with faith-based organizations, local barber and beauty shops, the local Health Department, and other established community partners to increase the reach and effectiveness of the program in the Cumberland County. The program aims to glean best practices around implementation of an evidence-based approach to increase cancer screenings using mobile health care.

“Research has shown that barriers exist in cancer prevention in the Black population. A culturally sensitive cancer prevention program may offer significant impact on cancer related knowledge and health seeking behaviors, thus improving health outcomes of this group.” – Jennifer Johnson Edwards, DNP, RN, WHNP, CNE

PhRMA is committed to doing its part to address the many interwoven factors that allow health inequities to persist. To that end, we believe addressing inequities effectively requires connecting with and learning from affected communities directly.

The PhRMA CAREs grant program will continue to support innovative solutions to make progress toward solutions to address inequities.

Follow our progress at https://phrma.org/en/Equity