Community-Informed Research and Cancer Control
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center has a long tradition of engaging community partners in research and outreach initiatives. Working together with partners and stakeholders, the cancer center's community-informed research and cancer control activities synergistically contribute to empowering healthy and cancer literate communities.
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Community Advisory Board
Purpose: Catalyst for informing and expanding synergistic collaborations across wide geographic area
Meharry-Vanderbilt-Tennessee State Cancer Partnership
Meharry-Vanderbilt-Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership (MVTCP) Advisory Board
Purpose: Engages local partners with focus on cancer health disparities
Responding to Community Needs & Priorities
The VICC catchment area includes 123 counties encompassing the entire state of TN, western KY, and northern AL. The VICC Office of Community Outreach and Engagement collaborates with patient and community stakeholders in a bi-directional manner on research, cancer control efforts, and quality care.
The VICC Office of Community Outreach and Engagement and the Meharry-Vanderbilt-Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership (MVTCP) collaborated with our partners to conduct the 2019 Community Cancer Needs Assessment and Toolkit. The purpose of this assessment was to characterize the burden of cancer in our catchment area and gather input from a range of community stakeholder groups about what needs and gaps need to be addressed. Based on the findings, our partners produced the community-driven vision and goals below, which will guide VICC and MVTCP research and outreach efforts during 2020-2025.
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In addition, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama all have state cancer plans that present a framework of priority goals and strategies to eliminate preventable cancers and minimize deaths and disabilities. They provide guidance for designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating cancer-related efforts. VICC faculty and staff recently collaborated with the Tennessee Cancer Coalition, Tennessee Department of Health and other community partners to produce the State of Tennessee Cancer Plan (2018-2022).
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Training Opportunity
The Cancer Basics 101 Training, created by researchers at VICC, was designed to educate non-scientists on cancer biology research. This training is separated into three sections: Basics of Cancer, Basics of Cancer Research, and Basics of Clinical Trials. To access this training, click here. Contact Kelsey.Fetters@vumc.org with any questions.
Research Examples
The catchment area needs and community-driven priorities inform the design and conduct of research conducted by cancer center investigators. Below are some examples of work:
