EDUCATION & COMMUNITY
International Innovation Grants
In partnership with Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, the Prevent Cancer Foundation® funds projects focused on cancer prevention and early detection in low- and middle-income countries with the potential for transferable practices to other settings.
The International Innovation Grants are awarded to new projects that aim to reduce the cancer burden and support unique needs in low- and middle-income countries.
Erika Ruiz-Garcia, M.D., MS, FASCO
Tiêu đề: Voices for Oncologic Health in Chiapas: A Multilingual, Culturally Adapted Radio and Community Outreach Strategy to Reduce Cancer Disparities
Tổ chức: National Cancer Institute of Mexico
Project Location: Mexico
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Mexico. In Chiapas, a southern state with the highest poverty rates and one of the largest Indigenous populations, the burden of cancer is especially severe. Voices for Oncologic Health in Chiapas is an innovative project designed to bring lifesaving cancer knowledge directly to underserved communities. Building on the National Cancer Institute of Mexico’s radio platform—founded two years ago and responsible for producing a variety of cancer-related educational materials since—the project will deliver programs in Spanish as well as the Indigenous languages Tsotsil and Tseltal, taking into account the cultural context of these populations. Educational materials will be created in multiple formats, ranging from radio capsules and podcasts to printed and digital resources. The goal is to reduce cancer disparities by addressing health literacy, language barriers, and access issues in one of Mexico’s most vulnerable states, with the potential to expand to other regions across the country.
“Receiving this award is a powerful validation of our commitment to breaking barriers in health literacy and access for underserved communities. It empowers us to scale inclusive, culturally tailored initiatives like Voices for Oncologic Health, ensuring that geography and language never dictate a patient’s cancer outcomes. “
-Erika Ruiz-Garcia, MD, MS, FASCO
Kehinde Sharafadeen Okunade, FWACS, MSc, MBBS
Tiêu đề: Risk-Stratified versus Cytology-Based Triage of Non-HPV 16/18-Positive for Detection of High-Grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia: A Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial
Tổ chức: University of Lagos
Project Location: Nigeria
Cervical cancer is a serious disease that affects women around the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. The STRAT-CIN Trial is designed to find an easier and more practical way to decide which women with lower-risk types of HPV still need additional or more frequent testing. Instead of relying only on Pap smears, the study will use basic medical information, such as a woman’s age, HIV status, smoking history, use of birth control and whether she has more than one HPV infection. This “risk-stratified triage” approach aims to determine who should receive further testing. This strategy will be compared with the standard Pap smear approach in about 148 women in Lagos, Nigeria. The goal is to improve cervical cancer screening while making it more accessible and effective in settings with limited resources.
“This support has further strengthened my capacity to lead impactful, translational research that will bridge rigorous clinical evidence with policy and practice, with the ultimate goal of contributing to cervical cancer prevention and elimination in Nigeria and other resource-constrained settings.”
-Kehinde Sharafadeen Okunade, FWACS, MSc, MBBS