Redes En Acción
Model for Community-Based Research, Training and Awareness Strategies
National Hispanic Medical Association Congressional Briefing
May 19, 2004
Amelie G. Ramírez, DrPH, Principal Investigator
Baylor College of Medicine – San Antonio Cancer Institute
Co-Principal Investigators
José R. Martí, MD
Columbia University
Martha A. Medrano, MD, MPH
U. of TX Health Science Ctr., S.A.
Edward J. Trapido, ScD
NCI
Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, MD
U. of California, San Francisco
Frank J. Penedo, PhD
U. of Miami
Gregory A. Talavera, MD, MPH
San Diego State U.
Aida L. Giachello, PhD
U. of Illinois, Chicago
Elena Ríos, MD
National Hispanic Medical Assoc.
Roland Garcia, PhD, NCI Program Officer
Supported by NCI Grant No. UO 1 CA 86117-01
Latino Health Disparities Challenge
Research
• Lack of emphasis on Latino
health research in general
• Lack of recognition among
researchers of cultural and
other differences within the
Latino population
Latino Health Disparities Challenge
Training
• Lack of emphasis on science and health education
 Dearth of Latino health/science leaders
 Fewer health/science professionals in community and
academia


Fewer Latinos in health/science fields in general
Consequently, few mentors to help
bring young researchers along
through pipeline
Latino Health Disparities Challenge
Awareness
•
Lack of awareness among Latinos
about cancer and other chronic
diseases
•
Risk promoting lifestyles, attitudes
and behaviors for cancer and
other diseases
•
Personal behavior changes
needed to reduce risks
Results of Inequities
• Latino population behind other groups in cancer and
other disease research, training and public education
• Before gap can be bridged, foundation must be laid
• Research needed in Latino (and sub-group) health
issues – and in cultural and other influences
• Interest in health/science fields must be cultivated
early in educational process
• Public education efforts for health issues needed on
fundamental level to raise level of knowledge
Historic Approach to the Challenge
• Issues largely ignored by mainstream
• Few significant attempts to address health/science
issues in any Latino-specific way
• Lack of cohesive policy to address Latino issues
• No recognition of value of bringing diverse
health/science, other elements of society together to
address issues significant to Latinos
SPN and Redes Approach
Create a national network of community-based organizations,
research institutions, government health agencies and the public to
promote cancer research, training and awareness among Latinos
Elements of the Model
Increase / enhance
RESEARCH through:
•
•
•
•
Pilot projects
Collaborative studies
Physician / key
stakeholder surveys
Other research
opportunities
Elements of the Model
Increase / enhance
TRAINING through:
•
Training programs
aimed at undergrads,
pre/post-doctoral
individuals, junior faculty
•
•
Mentorship
Extramural training
Elements of the Model
Increase / enhance
PUBLIC EDUCATION through:
•
•
•
•
•
Internet
Print journalism
Mass media
Events and presentations
Educational publications
Success of the
Redes Model
Redes En Acción Regions
NE RNC,
New York City
Jose R. Marti, MD
NC RNC,
Chicago
Aida L. Giachello, PhD
NW RNC,
San Francisco
Eliseo J. PérezStable, MD
NHMA,
Washington D.C.
Elena Rios, MD, MSPH
NW Region
SW Region
SW RNC,
San Diego
Gregory A. Talavera,
MD, MPH
SC Region
SE Region
SC RNC,
San Antonio
Martha A. Medrano
MD, MPH
NC Region
NE Region
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
NNC, Houston
Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH
SE RNC, Miami
Frank Penedo, PhD
Redes Pilot Projects
Year (Date of
Submission)
Proposals
Reviewed by
Redes En Acción
Proposals
Forwarded to
NCI
Proposals
Funded by NCI
Y1 (4/01)
5
5
1
Y2 (12/01)
11
2
2
Y2 (4/02)
6
3
2
Y3 (10/02)
6
5
4
Y3 (04/03)
9
4
2
Y4 (10/03)
17
10
5
TOTALS
54
29
16
Note: 55% of pilot proposals submitted to NCI funded.
Redes Pilot Projects
• Ana Natále-Pereira, MD, New Jersey Medical School,
Title: Improving Colon Cancer Among Hispanics/Latinos
• Martin Perez, PhD, City of Hope National Medical Ctr.
Title: Coping & Quality of Life in Latino Cancer Patients
• Ana Maria Lopez, MD, University of Arizona
Title: The Feasibility of Telecolposcopy in a
Gynecology Clinic
• Monica Yépes-Rios, MD, San Diego State U.
Title: Colorectal Cancer Screening: Identifying
Barriers to Screening in the Latino Population
Success: Research
•
Research
 29 pilot projects submitted to NCI, 16 funded = $900K
 Surveyed >600 key opinion leaders
 Surveyed >700 physicians
 >50 new and/or ongoing research projects Redes

researchers leading/subcontracting, leveraging $18M
NNC directly responsible for $5M
in new research funding
Redes Trainees
Category
Funded
Unfunded
Totals
Junior Faculty
16
13
29
Pre/Post-Docs
N/A
24
24
Interns
21
19
40
Other *
N/A
16
16
37
72
109
TOTALS
* Cancer Community Ambassador Program
Redes Trainees
• Isabel Scarinci, PhD, Junior Faculty, SE RNC
Young researchers “must learn to fly.”
• Joaquín Barnoya, MD, Pre/Post-Doc, NW RNC
”…My research on the tobacco industry and
Latin America has been widely distributed…
thanks in part to the Redes En Acción network.”
• Maria Luisa Zúñiga, PhD, Junior Faculty, SW RNC
”This training…broadened my vision on the role of
culture and ethnicity in preventive behavior.”
• Veronica Gutierrez, BS, SW RNC
“If I had not had the experience of interning with Redes,
graduate school would not be in my plans…this experience
greatly impacted my passion for reaching out to the Latino
community and making a positive difference.”
Redes Trainees: The Ripple Effect
Project Year
Y5
Y4
Y3
2003
Y2
2002
Y1
2001
30
60
90
120
Trainee Totals
Success: Training
•
Training
 109 trainees
 3 other training projects
– LCAT community leadership
seminars provide tobacco and
alcohol control training
– Science Enrichment Program
educates students in cancer risk reduction strategies
– Community Cancer Ambassador program provides
cancer information to patients, the media and the
general public
National PSA Campaign
•
4 PSAs (video and
audio) produced in
Spanish and English
•
>700 nationwide TV
and radio stations
receiving PSAs
•
2 Telly Awards for PSA
excellence
Success: Awareness
•
Awareness
 National media campaign
 >300K newsletters
 >1,000 community and

professional events
>80,000 web site visits last year,
8,500 downloads
What Redes Has Done
•
•
•
•
Increased number of Hispanic students in the health
sciences pipeline
Increased research opportunities for
early career Hispanic scientists
Increased collaborations among
Hispanic scientists
Increased knowledge about
Hispanics and cancer
Recommendations
•
•
•
•
Increase support for research in Latino health issues
 Include Hispanic subgroups in research
 Address unique cultural and socioeconomic factors
Increase the number of research projects awarded to
Latino researchers at NIH, CDC levels
Increase funding for scholarships to enable Latino
students to enter health professions
Increase support for development of culturally
appropriate outreach efforts to raise awareness levels
For more information on cancer control
policy recommendations produced by
Redes En Acción, visit our web sites at
www.redesenaccion.org
or
www.saludenaccion.org
Mil Gracias