Current Projects Fact Sheets

Feasibility Studies for Collaborative Interaction for Minority Institutions/Cancer Centers

SUMMARY

This National Cancer Institute-funded project will stimulate research and training collaborative partnerships between UT Pan American and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to increase the cancer research base on the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly in assessing decision-making among Latinas regarding knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about breast cancer genetic testing. Project investigators will: participate in pilot projects to train researchers at UT Pan American (a minority-serving institution) in translational and basic science research and the use of qualitative research techniques; determine the behavioral and socioeconomic barriers that affect cancer outcomes in Hispanics; and increase the number of cancer researchers in Texas. Using the vast information collected in this project, investigators also will develop and pre-test a survey to assess factors associated with breast cancer genetic testing.

FUNDING

The National Cancer Institute
2008-2011
Project No. P20 CA138021

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

• Susan Naylor, PhD
  The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
• Bimal Banik, PhD
  UT Pan American

CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

• Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH
  IHPR, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
• José A. Pagán, PhD
  UT Pan American
• Scott Gunn, PhD
  UT Pan American

COLLABORATORS

• UT Pan American
• The Institute for Population Health Policy at UT Pan American
• Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute

LOCATION/SERVICE AREA

The Texas-Mexico border region

CONCLUSIONS

The project is currently under way. Once finished, project investigators will use the results to prepare and submit an R01 and/or an U54 proposal for larger-scale assessments and interventions.

PUBLICATIONS

In progress