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Welcome to the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network Newsletter, Summer 2020


The Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) Coordinating Center is pleased to share the Summer 2020 Edition of the CPCRN newsletter. Distributed quarterly, this newsletter highlights the work and accomplishments of network investigators, federal agency partners, and affiliates, as well as upcoming opportunities and events, with an emphasis on cancer prevention and control.  

The CPCRN is a national network of academic, public health, and community partners who work together to reduce the burden of cancer, especially among those disproportionately affected. The CPCRN is a thematic research network of the Prevention Research Centers (PRCs), which is CDC’s flagship program for preventing and controlling chronic diseases. Currently-funded CPCRN centers are located at the Colorado School of Public Health, Emory University, New York University-CUNY, University of Arizona, University of Iowa, University of North Carolina, University of South Carolina, and University of Washington. 
  NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Five Cross-Center Workgroups Approved by CPCRN Steering Committee
 
With the start of a new funding cycle in September 2019, the Network embarked upon a flexible, inclusive process to develop new CPCRN cross-center workgroups. To catalyze collaborative efforts, during the CPCRN Kickoff Meeting in January 2020, each Center presented about their local core project and particular Center strengths that might facilitate CPCRN cross-center research collaboration. Investigators then pitched workgroup concepts at the meeting, and the group took time to brainstorm and think about Network strengths. The meeting concluded with a structured Consensus Workshop where interest group topics emerged. The interest groups have met regularly since February to develop project ideas. We are very pleased to share that five interest groups have developed charters and been formally approved by the CPCRN Steering Committee as CPCRN Workgroups. Additional workgroups will continue to emerge over time in response to evolving research interests and priorities. Each of the five approved Workgroups is described below:
CPCRN Scholars Workgroup
The CPCRN Scholars Workgroup is developing a program to educate students, postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, practitioners, and other health professionals in D&I science focused on cancer prevention and control and health equity. This Workgroup is co-chaired by CPCRN PIs Cam Escoffery, PhD, MPH, CHES of Emory University and Daniela Friedman, PhD of the University of South Carolina.
OTIS Workgroup
The Organizational Theory for Implementation Science (OTIS) Workgroup seeks to develop a framework of implementation determinants and strategies derived from organizational theories. This Workgroup is co-chaired by CPCRN PIs Linda Ko, PhD of the University of Washington and Jennifer Leeman, DrPH, MDiv of the University of North Carolina and affiliate Sarah Birken, PhD, MSPH of Wake Forest University.
Survivorship Workgroup
The Survivorship Workgroup seeks to advance interdisciplinary research collaborations and enhance the knowledge base that supports cancer survivorship science with the ultimate goal of promoting health equity for cancer survivors. This Workgroup is co-chaired by CPCRN PI Cynthia Thomson, PhD of the University of Arizona and co-investigator Sue Heiney, PhD, RN, FAAN of the University of South Carolina.
iCollab Workgroup
The iCollab Workgroup investigates implementation support strategies used in cancer prevention and control programs and how and when they are used to strengthen quality improvement (QI) as a method for implementing evidence-based interventions into routine practice. This Workgroup is co-chaired by CPCRN PIs Jennifer Leeman, DrPH, MDiv and Betsy Risendal, PhD of the Colorado School of Public Health.
Rural Cancer Workgroup
The Rural Cancer Workgroup, established during the previous funding cycle, continues to conduct impactful and innovative rural cancer prevention and control research to improve outcomes for rural residents and capacity for rural health care providers/organizations. This Workgroup is co-chaired by CPCRN PI Natoshia Askelson, PhD, MPH of the University of Iowa and co-investigator Jan Eberth, PhD of the University of South Carolina.
 
CPCRN Rural Cancer Workgroup Data Brief, August 2020
Members of the CPCRN Rural Cancer Workgroup produced a data brief titled "Addressing Financial Toxicity Among Rural and Urban Patients at Cancer Care Programs". Investigators conducted interviews with staff across 29 cancer care programs in seven states to develop an understanding about how cancer care programs assess financial hardship in patients, improve how programs connect patients with financial resources, and expand financial navigation services to serve rural cancer patients. 
CPCRN Collaborating Centers Address COVID-19 
 
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the way that research collaboration happens all across the country. CPCRN is well-positioned to respond to these changes given that we have collaborated remotely since the Network's inception in 2002. In addition to several  cross-center projects currently underway, CPCRN investigators continue to make great strides to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 through a variety of groundbreaking efforts implemented at various Collaborating Centers.
CPCRN investigators at the University of Arizona have contributed to COVID-19 research efforts in various capacities including assisting with the development of tools to map the spread of COVID-19 and measuring the rate of infection and advising best practices for use of diagnostic test-based criteria for determining infectivity, and subsequently, release from isolation.
CPCRN investigators at the University of Washington contributed expertise to several ongoing efforts with the aim of disrupting health disparities and misinformation as COVID-19 disproportionately plagues medically underserved communities.
NYU-CUNY CPCRN investigators have participated in a variety of projects aimed at addressing COVID-19 including interactive and educational resource webinars and collaborations with various workgroups and organizations to combat COVID-19 among Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
University of Iowa CPCRN investigators have produced an article reflecting on the importance of improving strategies for communicating to adolescents and young adults about why they should engage in COVID-19 protective behaviors.
CPCRN-Related Posters and Presentations at the AcademyHealth
2020 Annual Research Meeting, July 28 - August 6, 2020

The 2020 Annual Research Meeting (ARM), hosted by AcademyHealth, was held virtually from July 28 - August 6, 2020. The 2020 ARM featured 15 posters and presentations by CPCRN investigators across seven Collaborating Centers and affiliate institutions. This year's agenda featured research topics including social determinants and social needs; coverage, access, and Medicaid; health workforce; methods research, aging, disability, and end of life; mental health and substance use; and dissemination, implementation, and impact.

A complete list of CPCRN-related posters and presentations is available from the CPCRN website. Select full posters and presentations are also available for download.
PUBLICATIONS
This article was co-authored by Nadia Islam and Lorna Thorpe, CPCRN co-investigators of New York University-CUNY, among others
"Strong evidence that community health workers (CHW) are effective, coupled with evidence that practice facilitation can optimize implementation of evidence-based models of care, should inform decisions about future funding of practice facilitation to support CHW integration in small, independently-owned practices."  
Commentary co-authored by Robin Vanderpool, CPCRN federal agency partner of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
"The NCI has a long history of supporting health disparities research, including research to understand the health needs, strengths, and opportunities in rural communities. However, the portfolio analysis described in this article underscores the need to significantly accelerate rural cancer control research in partnership with state and local communities."  
Celebrate Your Age, It's Good for Your Health
CDC Blog: "The Topic is Cancer" (Jul 2020)
This article was authored by Mary White, CPCRN federal agency partner of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
"...aging is not just about biology, culture also plays a role. Compelling new research shows that all forms of ageism–age discrimination, demeaning depictions of older people, and unfavorable beliefs older adults have about themselves–can contribute to poorer health among older adults."  
This article was co-authored by CPCRN Coordinating Center PI Stephanie Wheeler along with PI Alison Brenner and co-investigator Daniel Reuland of the University of North Carolina, among others
"...little is known regarding the cost-effectiveness of [mailed reminders to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) screening] interventions, with or without an included fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) kit. The reminder + FIT alternative was cost saving per additional Medicaid enrollee screened compared with the reminder-only alternative from the Medicaid/state perspective and likely cost-effective from the health clinic/facility perspective."  
This article was co-authored by Jan Eberth, CPCRN investigator of the University of South Carolina
"Limited spatial accessibility to mammography, and socioeconomic barriers (e.g., being uninsured), may contribute to rural disparities in breast cancer screening...Geospatial methods could identify the optimal locations for mobile units, given existing brick-and-mortar facilities, to increase access for underserved areas."  
Article co-authored by CPCRN Coordinating Center PI Stephanie Wheeler along with and PI Alison Brenner and co-investigator Daniel Reuland of the University of North Carolina, among others
"Mailed at-home stool testing offers a promising strategy for overcoming barriers to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in vulnerable populations. This paper evaluates the facilitators and barriers that promoted successful implementation of a mailed fecal testing program among Medicaid populations within a health department setting."  
Systematic Review of Video Education in Underrepresented Minority Cancer Survivors
Cancer Nurs (Jul/Aug 2020)
Article co-authored by Rachel Hirschey, CPCRN investigator of the University of North Carolina
"Underrepresented minority (URM) cancer survivors experience disparities in mortality and quality of life, compared with non-Hispanic whites...Video interventions are well received by URMs and improve outcomes yet are underutilized. More rigorous studies are warranted to develop best practices for video development and application."  
This article was co-authored by David Chambers, CPCRN federal agency partner of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
"Capacity for dissemination and implementation (D&I) research in cancer is needed and mentored training programs have been developed... Qualitative approaches provide a deeper understanding of “how” programs work best...Accessible, responsive, and knowledgeable mentors were commonly mentioned by fellows as a key to their success in the program."  
This article was co-authored by Sarah Birken, CPCRN affiliate of Wake Forest University
"Implementation science is shifting from qualifying adaptations as good or bad towards understanding adaptations and their impact...Our model and associated decision aids build on existing frameworks by comprehensively characterizing adaptations, proposing how adaptations impact outcomes, and offering practical guidance for designing adaptations."  
PRESENTATIONS
CPCRN investigator Jan Eberth, PhD of the University of South Carolina was invited to present at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's (NASEM) 2-day virtual workshop on Population Health in Rural America in 2020. Her presentation titled "Do Rural Racial Disparities Get Lost in the Larger Discussion on Rural and Urban Disparities?" may be accessed as a recording or downloaded as a slide deck.
CPCRN principal investigator, Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH of NYU-CUNY, participated in an American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO) webinar featuring NCI representatives and cancer center leaders. Her presentation, titled "Leveraging Cancer Centers' COE Programs to Respond to COVID-19", focused on how COVID-19 has affected underserved communities and how social determinants of health have played a role in outcomes in NYC.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Co-hosted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and AcademyHealth, the 13th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health will be held virtually in mid-December. This year's Conference will include nine thematic tracks, collectively guided by the theme "Dissemination and Implementation Science in a Dynamic, Diverse, and Interconnected World: Meeting the Urgent Challenges of Our Time". Stayed tuned for registration information.
The Second Annual Implementation Science Consortium in Cancer (ISCC) Meeting, hosted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), will be held virtually from September 22-23, 2020. The 2020 ISCC will be a working meeting that will focus on short- and long-term cancer control priorities; challenges and opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic; synergies and gaps in the implementation science space across NCI-funded initiatives; and discussion on infrastructures for cross-collaboration. The meeting is free to attend, but registration is required for online participation.
Register Now
Agenda coming soon
The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) and UTHealth School of Public Health are hosting the inaugural Texas Institute for Implementation Science Conference and Workshop. The conference is designed to explore the evolution, current state, and future research agenda in implementation science through a series of four seminars, held from September through December 2020. Registration for individual or multiple seminars is open now. 
INVESTIGATOR UPDATES
CPCRN co-investigator Sue Heiney, PhD, RN, FAAN of the University of South Carolina received a renewed appointment as the Dunn-Shealy Professor of Nursing, an endowed chair position at the USC College of Nursing.
CPCRN principal investigator Daniela Friedman, PhD of the University of South Carolina guest edited a special issue for the Journal of Women & Aging focused on the challenges and opportunities of communication and aging. 
FUNDING AWARDS
Multiple University of Iowa Investigators Awarded Grants

Several CPCRN investigators of the University of Iowa have received funding awards to support their unique research endeavors. Mary Charlton, PhD (left) received a grant from the NCI to fund research on the impact of COVID-19 and social distancing on cancer-related behaviors. Nicole Novak, PhD (center) received a grant from the National Science Foundation to support a research aimed at understanding the socioeconomic, health, and emotional impacts of COVID-19 in rural communities. Finally, Aaron Scherer, PhD (right) received two NIH-funded grants that will help identify and address patient and health care provider barriers to a variety of immunization-related issues . Learn More
University of North Carolina Investigators Receive NC PICCS Award

In partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), a team of investigators at the University of North Carolina Collaborating Center were awarded funding by the CDC Colorectal Cancer Control Program for their proposal titled North Carolina Partnerships to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening (NC PICCS). Led by co-investigator Dan Reuland, MD, MPH, additional CPCRN members serving on the UNC team include: PIs, Jennifer Leeman, DrPH, MDiv and Alison Brenner, PhD, MPH; Coordinating Center PI, Stephanie Wheeler, PhD, MPH; project directors, Catherine Rohweder, DrPH and  Mary Wangen, MPH; and co-investigator, Renée Ferrari. Learn More
JOB POSTINGS
Program Director – Health Behaviors Research Branch, NCI

The Behavioral Research Program (BRP), within the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, welcomes letters of interest from researchers to serve as Program Director/Health Scientist Administrator in the Health Behaviors Research Branch (HBRB). This is a pre-announcement of the vacancy. Letters of interest may be submitted to ncidccpsbrpadvances@mail.nih.gov accompanied by a CV and two representative publications. A formal position announcement will be posted on www.usejobs.gov, and applications must be submitted through that website to be considered.
Postdoctoral Scholar – University of Iowa College of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology
 
The University of Iowa College of Public Health has an opening for a postdoctoral scholar position in the Department of Epidemiology. The individual selected for this role will be responsible for several duties: designing and implementing epidemiologic studies of cancer prevention, detection, etiology, treatment, progression, or survivorship; conducting data analyses using existing data sets or prospectively collected data; preparing and publishing manuscripts; and writing grant proposals for new funding. Applications are due by 11:59 pm ET on September 7, 2020.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Addressing Racial Disparities in Cancer Care Competitive Grant Program – Request for Proposals (RFP)

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and Pfizer Global Medical Grants are collaborating to offer a new competitive grant opportunity focused on addressing systemic race-related barriers that contribute to disparities in outcomes among Black men and women with cancer. This RFP is more comprehensive than the collaborative RFP released on June 11, and is not specific to one cancer type. Full proposals are due by 11:59 pm ET on September 10, 2020. 
PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES
Outlook, the official, quarterly newsletter of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM), invites authors to submit articles for the upcoming Fall 2020 issue. Outlook is interested in articles that focus on both how investigators' research has been impacted by COVID-19 and on what modifications, delays, and adjustments have been made as a result of the pandemic. Additionally, Outlook is interested in how these changes may impact future health outcomes and behavior.

Articles submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 27, 2020 will be considered for inclusion. Read the full call for papers for more details.
RESOURCES
CDC Cancer Prevention and Control: An Update on Cancer Deaths in the United States

CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC) conducts and supports studies to reduce the burden of cancer and eliminate health disparities. In their most recent report, the DCPC published updated statistics on cancer deaths in the United States over the last twenty years, from 1999 to 2018. The report reveals trends on causes of death by cancer type as well as death rates by sex, racial and ethnic group, U.S. Census region, and residence in an urban or rural county. The report includes a framework with strategies for continuing to reduce cancer deaths.
NCI Cancer Atlas and Data Resources at NCI GIS Portal for Cancer Research

The NCI Surveillance Research Program (SRP) relaunched the NCI Geographic Information Science (GIS) Portal for Cancer Research with a new look and novel tools and data. The Portal offers easy navigation and mobile-friendly interface for quick access to interactive mapping tools for exploring geographic patterns of cancer, risk factors, screening, demographics, and other cancer-related information.
Try generating a map with the new NCI Cancer Atlas, one of the featured tools. The NCI GIS Portal houses a variety of data sources and spatial datasets available for download.
Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in South Carolina (CCSPSC) – Final Report
The CDC-funded Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in South Carolina (CCSPSC) produced a final report at the conclusion of the grant in June, titled "Case Studies of Successful Colorectal Cancer Screening Program Implementation in South Carolina." The program’s adaptive, flexible, and iterative approach to phased implementation resulted in increased colorectal cancer screening rates. The Report highlights the success of the program’s processes by laying out examples of how the program was put into practice.
For the Latest News from CPCRN, Connect With Us on Social Media:
Twitter: @CPCRNCancer Twitter: @CPCRNCancer
Facebook: @CPCRN Facebook: @CPCRN
This newsletter is a product of a Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center supported by Cooperative Agreement Number U48 DP006400 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings and conclusions in the newsletter are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
Copyright © 2017 Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network, All rights reserved.
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