Texans, You Can Weigh in on Obesity-Reduction Efforts
Aug 19th
Texas adults are the 15th-most obese in the nation and 40% of Texas children are overweight or obese, which can lead to serious health concerns and increased health care costs.
Obesity is a multi-faceted problem and will require a comprehensive, collaborative systems change approach involving families, workplaces, schools, communities, organizations, business and industry, academic institutions, and local and state governments.
Salud America! The RWJF Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children is among the initiatives in the state that are addressing the burden of obesity.
CPRIT invites comments on the following questions:
- Given current efforts in Texas that address obesity research, prevention, and control, where are the gaps? What other evidence, research, programs, or services are needed to fill these gaps?
- Given CPRIT’s mission to fund innovation in cancer prevention and research, what unique niche, if any, should CPRIT attempt to fill?
You are invited to e-mail an answer to these questions (no longer than one page) to RFI@cprit.state.tx.us by Sept. 20, 2010. All ideas submitted will be reviewed by and distributed to CPRIT program staff and advisory groups. CPRIT will use these ideas to consider its role in addressing the burden of obesity in Texas.
CPRIT Call for Abstracts
Jul 12th
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) is seeking abstracts
for the inaugural Innovations in Cancer Prevention and Research conference to be held
Nov. 17-19, 2010 in Austin, Texas.
Abstracts must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2010.
Abstracts topic areas include:
- Cancer biology and genetics
- Cancer immunology
- Cancer imaging and diagnostics
- Cancer epidemiology and outcomes research
- Cancer treatment including drug discovery and development and clinical trials
- Health promotion, education and training for public and health care professional audiences
- Evidence-based primary prevention, early detection, and survivorship services
View other details about the abstract submission process here.
Applications Sought for Cancer Research Grants in Texas
Jun 10th
The Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) is seeking applications for grants to research various cancer topics in Texas.
CPRIT began accepting applications for the 2011 Individual Investigator and High Impact/High Risk awards last month. The deadline for applications for the programs (listed below) is June 10, 2010.
In addition, recruitment award applications are always accepted and considered on an expedited basis.
And on June 8, CPRIT released applications for three Cancer Prevention awards: Cancer Prevention Micro Grant; Evidence-Based Primary Prevention, Early Detection and Survivorship Services; and Health Promotion, Education, and Training for Public and Health Care Professional Audiences). Applications will be available on the CPRIT funding Web site.
San Antonio Researcher Wins Grant to Increase Latina Cancer Screening
Mar 12th
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institution of Texas (CPRIT) this week announced the $6.8 million to fund 12 new cancer prevention programs throughout Texas.
Dr. Cynthia Mojica
One of the projects is led by Cynthia Mojica, PhD, a researcher at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team behind SaludToday.
Dr. Mojica’s project, called Salud San Antonio!, will allow her to position four community health workers (promotoras) at four community health groups to deliver a cancer education and outreach program to increase screening rates and knowledge of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer among Latinas living in 10 zip codes in San Antonio’s West and South sides.
These zip codes have been identified by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District as high-risk areas for public health problems and have a median household income of $26,824 and are 82% Latino.
The four promotoras will conduct outreach and small group sessions to educate Latinas on risk factors, screening tests and the benefits of early detection. Women considered “rarely or never screened” – identified at community events and via clinics – will be encouraged to obtain a mammogram, Pap test, or blood stool test. Women in need of screening will be given a list of clinics that offer no- or low-cost services and receive a phone call to determine if they have scheduled a screening appointment.
Final screening status will be assessed three months after the small group session.
“We believe that Salud San Antonio! will increase much-needed knowledge and screening behavior among Latinas in San Antonio,” said Dr. Mojica, who also is a member of the Health Science Center’s Cancer Therapy & Research Center. “If successful, this educational model can be exported to other high-risk populations in South Texas and other largely Latino areas in Texas.”