Community-Engaged Research

The core mission of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) is to drive community-centered research initiatives by establishing cooperation and collaboration between communities throughout the catchment area we serve and DLDCCC physicians and scientists. This dynamic partnership ensures that the communities that stand to benefit most from our work have a role in actively shaping our research priorities. Through our CAB/PCAB, the community offers feedback on areas of particular interest and helps us address relevant health issues with actionable and fair solutions.

Below, we highlight a few recent COE-driven research initiatives:

• In collaboration with the Cancer Cell and Gene Therapy (CCGT) and Cancer Prevention and Population Science (CPPS) Program, COE engaged the CAB/PCAB to identify potential avenues to enable more patients in our catchment area to access cell therapy. This project created the first-in-nation safety net hospital cell therapy unit, extending access to under-insured populations in Harris County and beyond.
• Working with CPPS, COE helped facilitate community partnerships and linguistically appropriate resources for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and other metabolic syndromes, which are prevalent in our catchment area.
• Lung cancer remains a priority for the DLDCCC and, in collaboration with the Pediatric Cancer Program (PCP) and CPPS, as well as CRTEC, COE worked to develop a vaping cessation project for adolescents. Over the past few years, this program has been successfully implemented at community events.
• Breast cancer is a catchment area priority for the DLDCCC. Thus, COE worked closely with members of CPPS and the Breast Cancer Program to improve rates of screening and follow-up. Specifically, COE provided patient navigation, culturally appropriate outreach, and education to patients who may have been lost to attrition.

• Our alliance between BCM and Texas Southern University (TSU), which was established through the efforts of Drs. Rouce, Amos (CPPS), Sreekumar, and Rowley (TB), in partnership with TSU leaders, resulted in the only NIH P20 award funded during the 2024 cycle: the BCM-TSU P20 “Collaborative Union for Cancer Research, Education, and Disparities (CURED).” This $2.4 million, 4-year award (PI from DLDCCC: Dr. Rouce; PI from TSU: Dr. Ajewole) aims to formalize a collaborative framework for advancing cancer research, education, and community outreach in coordination with CRTEC and the Inclusive Leadership and Culture Team.
• To increase the participation of patients within our catchment area in cancer clinical research, COE collaborates closely with clinical research leadership to identify and address enrollment barriers. This work includes a review of protocols and consent forms to adjust for cultural and linguistic competencies. In addition, Drs. Rouce and Ayala-Ramirez attend Disease Working Groups and program meetings to assess potential barriers to accrual or retention of socioeconomically disadvantaged or geographically distant populations. COE representatives also serve on the DLDCCC Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee, providing feedback on how proposals align with catchment area priorities.