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INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH PROMOTION RESEARCH (IHPR)

Current Projects Fact Sheets

Redes En Acción: The National Latino Cancer Research Network (CNP)

SUMMARY

Redes En Acción, originally established in 2000 under the National Cancer Institute’s Special Populations Networks program, was refunded in 2005 as one of 25 NCI Community Networks Programs. Redes is continuing its work to bring together the most extensive collection of organizations ever assembled nationwide to collaborate in the fight against cancer among this country’s Hispanic/Latino populations. The program develops a broad-based coalition of cancer research centers, community-based organizations and federal partners to foster a national infrastructure for Hispanic/Latino cancer prevention and control activities. Research efforts focus on policy and organizational change and on the effects of innovative interventions to reduce disparities. Through network activities, the program established training and research opportunities for Latino students and researchers, generating research projects on key cancer issues impacting Latinos and supporting cancer awareness activities, such as media campaigns and communication strategies geared to improve access to cancer screening and treatment services and increase utilization of beneficial interventions to reduce disparities. Redes’ national coordinating center is in San Antonio, and the program has regional coordinating centers in New York, Miami, San Francisco, San Diego and Houston – each linked by common goals, objectives and synergies.

FUNDING

nci logo

National Cancer Institute
2005-10
Project No. 1 U01 CA114657

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

  • Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH
    IHPR, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (at Baylor College of Medicine for start of project)

CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

  • J. Emilio Carrillo, MD, MPH
    Associate Professor, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, President and Chief Medical Officer of the New York-Presbyterian Community Health Plan (Northeast Regional Network Center, New York City)
  • Maria E. Fernández, PhD
    Assistant Professor and Director of Diversity Programs, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health (Central Regional Network Center, Houston)
  • Frank J. Penedo, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami (Southeast Regional Network Center, Miami)
  • Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, MD
    Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at University of California, San Francisco (Northwest Regional Network Center, San Francisco)
  • Gregory A. Talavera, MD, MPH
    Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University (Southwest Regional Network Center, San Diego)

COLLABORATORS

  • NCI Center for Strategic Dissemination
  • NCI Specialized Programs of Research Excellence
  • NCI Cancer Genetics Network
  • NCI Special Populations Networks
  • Cancer Information Service
  • Office of Cancer Survivorship
  • Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
  • Center for Cancer Research
  • Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
  • Continuing Umbrella of Research Experience
  • Minority Institution Cancer Control Program
  • National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics
  • National Hispanic Medical Association
  • Hispanic Centers of Excellence
  • Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools
  • Latinos in a Network to Control Cancer
  • Susan G. Komen for the Cure
  • Lance Armstrong Foundation
  • Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco
  • Tobacco-Free Kids
  • National Council of La Raza
  • National Association of Community Health Centers
  • Hispanic Radio Network
  • National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc.
  • Dia de la Mujer
  • Toburcio Vasquez Health Center, Union City, Calif.
  • San Ysidro Health Centre, San Diego, Calif.
  • Su Clinica Familiar, Harlingen, Texas
  • Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Abriendo Caminos, Casselberry, Fla.
  • American Cancer Society
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Health Resources and Services Administration
  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  • National Institute of General Medicine Sciences
  • National Human Genome Research Institute
  • Women’s Health Initiative
  • M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
  • The Cancer Therapy & Research Center

LOCATION/SERVICE AREAS

Redes’ National Network Center is located in San Antonio, and it has regional sites in San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, Miami, and New York

CONCLUSIONS

Redes has addressed Latino cancer disparities on several fronts. From 2000 to 2006, 18 pilot cancer research projects were funded by NCI through Redes with grants totaling more than $900,000. In all, Redes-related cancer research projects at both the national and regional levels surpassed $95 million in leveraged funding from public and private sources. In the program’s training component, 191 young Latinos throughout the U.S. were provided opportunities to train with cancer researchers and receive invaluable mentorship. In addition, regional network staffs raised cancer awareness in the public through hundreds of community events conducted across the country. Specifically, the program developed:

  • Five regional network centers
  • A database of more than 2,000 partners
  • Policy studies relating to cancer disparity reduction and access to screening and care for Latinos
  • A two-part study to assess the need for a patient navigation intervention to improve access to timely and quality follow-up of abnormal cancer test results
  • Four new or ongoing research projects directly generated as a result of Redes have been funded that explore genetics, breast cancer, Latino health disparities, and clinical trial recruitment, totaling almost $1 million in funding.
  • More than $73 million leveraged funding research dollars through 38 regional and national new and/or ongoing projects that Redes researchers are leading or participating in through subcontracts and shared resources.
  • Communication materials: Quarterly e-newsletters disseminated to Redes national network; monthly E-Alerts to offer timely information to network; a Web site with a Latino Cancer Experts Directory and interactive “Join the Network” Web form; and two public service announcement campaigns
  • More than 1,700 cancer education events (health fairs, etc.)
  • More than 400 professional education presentations have been given nationally at conferences, seminars and workshops.

For more information about Redes, visit its Web site at www.redesenaccion.org.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Ramirez, A, Vela, L, & Cigarroa, FG. 2008. The health needs of the Lower Rio Grande border region with an innovative service, research, and education model. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 7, (2), 183-194.
  • Ramirez, AG, Wildes, K, Talavera G, Nápoles-Springer, A, Gallion, K, & Pérez-Stable, EJ. 2007. Clinical Trials attitudes and practices of Latino physicians. Contemporary Clinical Trials, [Epub ahead of print, November 2007].
  • Ramirez AG, Talavera G, Marti J, Penedo F, Medrano M, Giachello A, Pérez-Stable EJ. 2006. Redes En Acción: Increasing Hispanic participation in cancer research, training and awareness. Cancer, 107 (8 Supp):2023-2033.
  • Howe HL, Wu X, Ries L, Cokkindes V, Ahmed F, Jemal A, Miller B, Williams M, Ward E, Wingo P, Ramirez AG, Edwards B. 2006. Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2003, Featuring Cancer among U.S. Hispanic/Latino Populations. Wiley InterScience; Available from: www.interscience.wiley.com.
  • (Under development) Ramirez, AG, Wildes, K, Nápoles-Springer, A, Perez-Stable, E, Talavera, G, & Rios E. Resubmitted 2008. Physician gender differences in general cancer-specific prevention attitudes and practices. Journal of Cancer Education.
  • (Under development) Mamani, D, Miller, AR, Aparicio-Ting, FE, San Miguel de Majors, SL, Pollock, BH, & Ramirez, AG. Submitted 2007. Barriers to breast cancer care among Hispanic women in South Texas. Journal of Oncology Practice.
  • (In preparation) Scarinci IC, Garces IC. Cervical Cancer Primary Prevention Among Latino Immigrants: Knowledge and Beliefs Regarding Sexual Risk Reduction [Pilot: Cervical Cancer Primary Prevention in Latina Immigrants].
  • (In preparation) Perez MA, Thornton AA, Otis-Green S. Denial-type Coping Mediates the Relationship Between Culture-Related Variables and Health-Related Quality of Life in Latinos with Cancer [Pilot: Coping and Quality of Life in Latino Cancer Patients].
  • (In preparation) Ma F, Collado-Mesa F, Hu S, Kirsner RS. Skin Cancer Awareness in White Hispanic and White Non-Hispanic High School Students in Miami, Fla., U.S. [Pilot: Perception of Risk of Skin Cancer in Hispanic Students].
  • (In preparation) Ramirez AG, Wildes K. Comparison of Minority and Non-Minority Physicians and Clinical Trial Recruitment.

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