OneFlorida Cancer Control Alliance Launches Minority Education Program, Accepts Two Applications for Full Proposals

In an effort to address historic health disparities among vulnerable populations in the state of Florida, the OneFlorida Cancer Control Alliance launched the Cancer Prevention and Control Pragmatic Clinical Trials and Implementation Science Minority Education Program. The Minority Education Program aims to promote diversity in cancer prevention and control research by providing developmental support for junior faculty who are members of underrepresented groups.

Participants will receive a $25,000 award to fund research, support for study protocol and research coordination, and one-on-one mentorship from a senior faculty member at the University of Florida, Florida State University, or the University of Miami.

Applicants were invited to an Innovation Studio at the University of Florida on Nov. 12 to receive feedback on their research design. From that pool, two applicant teams have been selected to submit full proposals:

• Torhonda Lee, Ph.D., MCHES, assistant professor in Behavioral Science and Health Education, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Florida A&M University, and Arlesia Mathis, Ph.D., CPH, CPM, assistant professor of Health Policy & Management at Florida A&M University (Co-PIs), “Examination of Current Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates to Determine Feasibility of Implementing EBPs” (Both faculty members are pictured above at the November Innovation Studio at the University of Florida.)
• Jose Trevino, M.D., a UF Health surgical oncologist and an assistant professor in the University of Florida’s Department of Surgery’s division of general surgery, “Treatment Disparities Between White and Minority Patients with Pancreatic Cancer in the State of Florida”

On Dec. 4, the applicant team gave a 10-15 minute presentation about their research study, followed by a 45-minute discussion by the panel and the audience, at an Innovation Studio at the University of Florida Clinical and Translational Research Building.  The full applications are due in February.