PROJECT SUMMARY Overall TUFCCC: Grace X. Ma, PhD (Contact PI) and Camille Ragin, PhD, MPH (MPI) HC: Olorunseun O. Ogunwobi, MD, PhD (Contact PI) and Joel Erblich, PhD, MPH (MPI) The Synergistic Partnership for Enhancing Equity in Cancer Health (SPEECH) is a highly collaborative and mutually beneficial Partnership between Temple University/Fox Chase Cancer Center (TUFCCC) and Hunter College (HC) and the only NCI-funded U54 CPACHE in PA and NJ and one of two in NYC. Our established robust research infrastructure has made significant contributions to addressing substantial cancer health disparities (CHD) in underserved African American, Asian-Pacific American and Hispanic American populations. These target populations have higher cancer mortality rates compared to others in the U.S. and majority live in neighborhoods with medium-very high and persistent poverty. In the past five years, SPEECH directly supported 84 investigators, mentored 180 trainees, funded 56 cancer disparities projects, facilitated 93 publications and directly stimulated $45 million externally funded grants. Additionally, 14 minority ESIs received career advancement, we engaged 50 community-based organizations, trained 41 community health workers and educated 1200 members of diverse communities in cancer prevention. Leveraging this momentum of success our Vision is to “Promote Inclusive Excellence and break systemic barriers to close gaps in cancer health disparities research, education, community outreach and engagement, and achieve infrastructure capacity building.” Through exceptional institutional commitments, two full projects, a pilot project and integrated cores of Administrative, Research Education, Biostatistics/Bioinformatics, Planning and Evaluation, and Community Outreach, we propose to achieve the following specific aims. Aim 1: Accelerate TUFCCC-HC Partnership transdisciplinary cancer disparities research collaborations and advance cancer health equity across the spectrum of basic, clinical and population sciences. Aim 1a: build, strengthen and sustain cancer research capacities and infrastructure at HC. Aim 1b: advance CHD research to maximize impact at TUFCCC. Aim 1c: foster community-driven research to address cancer disparities in the PA-NJ-NYC region. Aim 2. Train the next generation of CHD scientists and workforce leaders for a pipeline of diverse and underrepresented students, providing them with multidisciplinary cancer disparities research education experiences and mentorship, and career development opportunities through the implementation of enhanced Summer Cancer Research Institute and newly established Hunter/Temple HEAL Program. Aim 3. Recruit, mentor and retain diverse ESIs, especially URM groups to enhance career development and facilitate their transition to independent investigators. Aim 4. Use bidirectional community engagement approaches to implement a robust community outreach program that builds bridges between diverse communities and researchers to support: a) cancer education and interventions, b) cancer disparities research projects and c) CBPR competencies for investigators and trainees. Aim 5. Conduct a mixed-method evaluation aimed at monitoring progress, providing feedback and summative impact data on all Partnership programing for promoting sustainable solutions to improved cancer health equity.

PROJECT NARRATIVE Overall The underserved vulnerable African American, Asian-Pacific American and Hispanic American populations in the PA-NJ-NYC region experience significant cancer-related health disparities across the cancer continuum, from a higher prevalence of cancer risk factors to delayed screening and diagnoses, experiencing more advanced disease, and poorer outcomes. SPEECH has made significant strides toward transforming cancer health disparities research and education; research infrastructure and platforms that enabled investigators to advance cancer health equity in these underrepresented and underserved populations. In the next five years, our Partnership aims to advance cancer health disparities research, training/workforce development, and community-informed interventions by breaking structural, systemic barriers and promoting inclusive excellence across disciplines among basic, clinical and population science researchers, trainees and diverse underserved communities