The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Cancer Awareness, Research, Engagement and Support Center has awarded funding to four pilot projects aimed at reducing cancer risk and improving cancer prevention, care and survivorship in Alabama communities affected by persistent poverty.
Supported by the National Cancer Institute’s Persistent Poverty Initiative, the CARES Center is one of only five centers nationwide focused on understanding how social and environmental factors such as housing, access to care, neighborhood conditions and financial stability influence cancer outcomes.
Following a competitive review process, four projects were selected for Year 4 funding:
System-Level Electronic Health Record Integration To Facilitate Tobacco Quitline Referrals
Researcher: Rouyan Sun, Ph.D.
This project will evaluate whether integrating tobacco quitline referrals into electronic health records can increase use of smoking cessation services, particularly in underserved communities where tobacco use remains a major cancer risk factor.
Indoor Air Quality Interventions To Reduce Cancer Risk in Rural Settings
Researcher: Jialei Shen, Ph.D.
Focusing on households in Demopolis, Alabama, this study will assess whether air purifiers and home energy renovations can improve indoor air quality and reduce biological indicators linked to cancer risk.
Engaging Community Health Workers To Mitigate Physical Activity Barriers
Researcher: Nashira Brown, Ph.D.
Building on existing CARES initiatives, this project will identify barriers to physical activity in persistent poverty communities and develop strategies to equip community health workers to support healthier lifestyles.
Financial Outcomes in Rural-Urban Medical Treatment (Project FORTIFY)
Researcher: Maria Pisu, Ph.D.
In collaboration with researchers in Utah and Montana, Project FORTIFY will examine cancer-related financial hardship among patients and caregivers in rural and urban communities to inform future interventions aimed at reducing financial toxicity.
Together, these projects reflect the CARES Center’s commitment to addressing the social, environmental, behavioral and economic factors that contribute to cancer disparities and to improving outcomes for Alabama residents living in areas of persistent poverty.
Shen, Brown and Pisu all hold appointments with the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.