Science of Cancer Health Disparities Conference

Cancer survivors and advocates are important members of the research community and valuable participants at the AACR Science of Cancer Health Disparities Conference, September 16-19, 2022. The following was a brief overview of the opportunities available to cancer survivors and patient advocates at the Science of Cancer Health Disparities Conference.

Welcome and Opening Session

Friday, September 16, 2022 | 4 – 6 P.M. EDT | Room: Salon CDE

Advocate Keynote
‘How patient advocates can make a difference in their research advocacy efforts and contributions and why it’s important.’
Wenora Y. Johnson, Fight Colorectal Cancer, Alexandria, Illinois

ADVOCATE ABSTRACTS

Friday, September 16, 2022 | 7 P.M. EDT | Poster Session A

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) invited patient advocates to submit abstracts, on initiatives and programs implemented to help reduce cancer health disparities, for the 15^th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved.

Increasing Diversity in Clinical Trials

Saturday, September 17, 2022 | 12:30 – 2 P.M. EDT

A disproportionately high percentage of clinical trial participants are White. Sometimes this is due to local demographics, but is often due to the structure/mechanism of standard trials. As a result, study outcomes may not represent the whole population, or can be biased/skewed based on one group/race. We will talk about the importance in incorporating diversity in clinical studies and will discuss some strategies the FDA has put forth to recruit people with diverse backgrounds, increase awareness, and how trials are now being designed with specific mechanisms to include/recruit diversity.

Email [email protected] for additional information.

Advocacy Lounge

Saturday, September 17 – Monday, September 19, 2022 | 11 A.M. – 4 P.M. EDT | Room: Salon B

The AACR Advocacy Lounge was an opportunity to meet members of the AACR patient advocacy staff, ask questions, and connect with other patient advocates attending the meeting.

addressing advocacy at the bench: A discussion about cultural literacy

Sunday, September 18, 2022 | 8-9 A.M. EDT | Room: Salon CDE

Patients’ cultural health beliefs are integral to their quality of care. It affects how they think and feel about clinical research, their health and health problems, when and from whom they seek health care, and how they respond to recommendations for lifestyle change, health-care interventions, and treatment plans. The interface between cultural processes, healthcare, and science is complex. Fortunately, there is emerging literature on the effectiveness of community-based interventions to increase the cultural competence of health providers and scientists. This session will highlight case studies of community-based initiatives, developed and implemented by teams of advocates and researchers, that focus on shaping programs, policies, and interventions that promote cultural competence.

Learn more about Addressing Advocacy at the Bench.

Closing Persistent Gaps in Cancer Care: Reducing Disparities and Democratizing Cancer Care – A Call to Action

Sunday, September 18, 2022 | 5 – 6 P.M. EDT | Room: Salon CDE

Over the last decade, there have been considerable strides made against cancer in the United States, including the fact that more people can live longer, healthier lives after a cancer diagnosis. Despite this impressive progress, medically underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, continue to suffer disproportionally from cancer burdens. Over the past many years, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has prioritized ways to close the racial gaps that continue to persist in cancer care, such as through convening a Cancer Disparities Think Tank, collaborating with federal and private partners on summits focused on moving the science of health disparities forward, and publishing two comprehensive Cancer Disparities Progress Reports with detailed Calls to Action for policy makers to improve cancer health equity. This session will continue the conversation of identifying action items to reduce cancer disparities, including efforts to improve enrollment of participants from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations in clinical trials.

Registration

Individuals wishing to attend the conference must register online. Registration will not be processed without full payment. All fees must be in U.S. currency, drawn on a U.S. bank. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are also accepted for payment.

In–*Person* *Rates*	Advance (by August 2)	Regular (after August 2)
Patient Advocate Member	$255	$360
Patient Advocate Nonmember	$370	$475

*On Demand Registration Rates* (opens September 20 at 9:00 a.m. ET)
Patient Advocate Member	$195
Patient Advocate Nonmember	$275

On-demand registration is available and will provide access to the virtual meeting platform approximately 7-10 days after the meeting. On-demand registration will provide access to all lecture sessions (synchronized slides and audio), short video presentations of posters, the final program schedules, abstracts, awardees, supporters, and related meeting information. On-demand viewing will remain available until November 28, 2022 (70 days after last day of meeting).

AACR members must log into their member account when registering online to obtain the member rates (member dues must be paid through 2022 prior to registering). Online registrations will be confirmed by email immediately. Receipts can also be obtained online.

If you are a nonmember Patient Advocate registering for this conference, email the AACR Patient Advocacy Department at [email protected] after completing the advocate verification form. Should you need financial assistance, please email [email protected].

Please note: Users must log in to myAACR to register. The “Register” button will become active once you log in using an existing account or once you create a new nonmember account.

Attendee registration includes admission to all sessions. All fees are listed in U.S. Dollars (USD) and are nonrefundable.

Learn More:

Last Updated: 10/7/22