Special Populations Networks--how this innovative community-based initiative affected minority and underserved research programs.

The Special Populations Networks (SPN) Program was created to address both community needs for cancer information and NCI's desire to obtain community-based answers to research questions and promote training opportunities for racial/ethnic minority and underserved researchers in populations with an unequal burden of cancer. The SPN program included 3 components: 1) infrastructure and capacity building combined with cancer awareness, 2) community-based research, and 3) community-centered training. The 18 SPN grantees conducted more than 1000 cancer awareness activities. More than 2000 community lay health workers were trained. Communities formalized more than 300 partnerships with Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). More than 255 pilot research project applications were submitted by junior researchers and over 135 were funded. Approximately 90% of the applications were submitted by minority junior researchers; of which more than 100 were funded. More than 290 scientific publications thus far have resulted from the work of the SPNs. In the first 3 years of the program, the SPNs also secured an additional $20 million in outside funding. The SPN program effected a paradigm shift for minority research programs by combining community-based cancer awareness, research, and training into a single program. By engaging research leaders of minority and underserved populations to aid their own, train their own, and develop research to help their own, the SPN program activated the power of their commitment to their own. That commitment was reflected in the trust and participation offered by their communities. Cancer 2006. (c) 2006 American Cancer Society.

The Special Populations Networks for cancer awareness research and training.

The Special Populations Networks (SPN) project is widely regarded as perhaps the most successful in the history of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at performing cancer awareness, research, and training activities within minority and underserved communities throughout the United States and its territories. Key to that success is the trust established among the community, its researchers and the NCI. Composed of 18 separate grant awards, the SPN project was implemented in April 2000 to integrate the communities' need for cancer information with the NCI's need to increase cancer awareness, perform new research, and train minority junior investigators for research in populations with a disproportionate burden of cancer. To date, the 18 networks have conducted more than 1,000 awareness events, trained more than 2,000 community health aides, won 135 grants to support pilot research projects, published 130 peer-reviewed papers, and raised another $20 million to support SPN activities. Successful implementation of the SPN project required the principal investigators to establish and maintain close working relationships with key community leaders and organizations in cooperation with NCI.

The Asian Tobacco Education, Cancer Awareness and Research's role in tobacco and cancer control efforts in Asian American communities.

PURPOSE: This article identifies the urgent needs for tobacco and cancer control in Asian American communities and the barriers that have historically prevented the development and implementation of tobacco and cancer prevention and intervention research programs among Asian Americans residing in Delaware Valley region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This article also presents ATECAR, the first long-term federal effort in tobacco and cancer control targeting the multi-ethnic Asian American communities in this area. METHODS: ATECAR uses a three-pronged approach: the development of community and university infrastructure, the development of training programs for minority and underserved students so that they will pursue cancer research careers, and community-based intervention research projects. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: ATECAR's pioneering work redefined our understanding of Asian Americans' smoking habits and the important role of smoking, especially in newly immigrated communities. CONCLUSION: The advent of ATECAR marks the building of a viable infrastructure that can ensure sustainability of current and future efforts in tobacco control and use.