VCU secures $9 million grant to establish Cancer Control Equity Research Center in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has received a $9 million grant to establish a Cancer Control Equity Research Center in Virginia, which aims to enhance cancer prevention services to individuals in under-resourced communities. According to a spokesperson for the VCU Massey Cancer Center, VCU has been awarded a five-year, $9 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to establish a pioneering Cancer Control Equity Research Center. The initiative aims to enhance the spread and implementation of health promotion and cancer prevention services for individuals and families residing in Virginia's Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-administered income-based housing communities in the Greater Richmond region and Hampton Roads, according to the spokesperson. The collaborative research effort will bring together experts from VCU's Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine and School of Public Health, as well as Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University (ODU). Through a multidisciplinary, team science approach, these experts will work closely with other researchers, community co-leaders and the Housing Collaborative Community Advisory Board (HCCAB) to establish the Virginia Advancing Cancer Control Equity Research Through Transformative Solutions (VA-ACCERT) Center, according to the spokesperson. In this project, community members will serve as active collaborators and co-investigators with a strong emphasis on authentic community engagement and partnership. All interventions will reportedly be designed collaboratively with HCCAB and community co-leads. According to the spokesperson, in the first year, the team will develop and deliver training programs for HUD staff, with the goal of addressing and reducing exposure to discrimination at both the individual and community levels. In partnership with each income-based housing community, the project will also introduce structural interventions at the built environment level, such as initiatives aimed at improving food access and affordability, as well as promoting physical activity. The multilevel intervention will also include individual-level activities, including hotspot and tablet access, a comprehensive digital lifestyle intervention, as well as community-level activities open to all residents, such as experiential nutrition events conducted by a local community partner. According to the spokesperson, these efforts will be driven by a comprehensive understanding of the community's assets and needs, aiming to enhance health equity and well-being across multiple levels. Additionally, officials said the VA-ACCERT Center will serve as a hub to foster a more diverse workforce of early-career investigators who will possess the expertise and support to guide new cancer prevention and control strategies within income-based housing communities. “This work is truly transformative because it centers the voices and needs of the communities we serve. By engaging directly with residents, we’re ensuring that the solutions we implement are not just impactful, but deeply meaningful for those who live here. Through our partnerships and interventions, we aim to break the cycle of disparities and pave the way for generations to experience better health and health outcomes.” Brynn Sheehan, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Research and Infrastructure Service Enterprise at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU