Reflecting on Partnerships Established and Sustained Over Four Cycles of a Federally Funded Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program: Lessons Learned for Community-Academic Networks

Author(s)

Swann Arp Adams
Lauren Workman Ph.D., University of South CarolinaFollow
Mayank Sakhuja
Brooks Yelton MA, LMSW, University of South CarolinaFollow
Karen E. Wickersham PhD, RN, University of South Carolina - ColumbiaFollow
Ciaran Fairman, University of South Carolina - ColumbiaFollow
Jan Eberth Ph.D., University of South Carolina - ColumbiaFollow
Sue Heiney ScD, University of South CarolinaFollow
James Hébert ScD, University of South Carolina - ColumbiaFollow
Freda Allyson Hucek, University of South Carolina - ColumbiaFollow
Lauren Schaurer, University of South Carolina - ColumbiaFollow
Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., University of South Carolina - ColumbiaFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Introduction: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) is a national network which aims to accelerate the adoption and implementation of evidence-based cancer prevention and control strategies and interventions in communities, enhance large-scale efforts to reach underserved populations and reduce their cancer-related health disparities, and develop the capacity of the dissemination and implementation work force specifically in cancer prevention and control. Methods: Our site has been a part of the CPCRN since its inception in 2002 with the exception of the 2004–2009 funding cycle. As community-based participatory research is a core value of our center, we examined the development and continued engagement of our community partners using a qualitative, inductive approach to identify emergent themes from focus group sessions with current and past investigators. Results: Several key themes were identified from our analysis including long-term commitment to community partnerships and interconnectedness with other work, authentic approach, valuing our community as experts, and mutual benefits. Discussion: With our results, we provide evidence of common community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles which have supported the sustained engagement with those racial minorities who are most vulnerable in our community. While future analysis is planned to utilize this same approach with our community partners, this work marks an important step in reflecting upon the approaches which have led to our success and how they can be applied in future collaborations to maximize impact and sustained health improvements.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1384588

Publication Info

Published in Frontiers in Public Health, Volume 12, 2024.

Rights

© 2025 Adams, Workman, Sakhuja, Yelton, Wickersham, Fairman, Eberth, Heiney, Hebert, King, Hucek, Schaurer and Friedman. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY)). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

APA Citation

Adams, S. A., Workman, L., Mayank Sakhuja, Yelton, B., Wickersham, K. E., Fairman, C., Eberth, J., Heiney, S., Hebert, J. R., King, J. H., Hucek, F. A., Schaurer, L., & Friedman, D. B. (2025). Reflecting on partnerships established and sustained over four cycles of a federally funded cancer prevention and control research program: lessons learned for community-academic networks. Frontiers in Public Health, 12.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1384588