Abstract C158: Bridging gaps through partnership: A community-academic-government-industry approach to advancing cancer equity for Black women in the South

Abstract Introduction: Disparities in breast and cervical cancer outcomes continue to affect Black women in the South, particularly in rural and underserved areas of Alabama and Georgia. Despite similar incidence rates, Black women experience disproportionately higher mortality due to systemic barriers, including limited access to early detection, timely follow-up, and high-quality care. The Project Health Equity (PHE) Initiative, is a community-academic-government-industry partnership between the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) and Hologic, with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), and their respective state breast and cervical cancer programs. The study centers on identifying and addressing these multi-level barriers to breast and cervical cancer screening (BCCS) through a collaborative approach. Methods: The PHE builds on long-standing, established community-academic research and service delivery models of navigation to access care, and transdisciplinary collaboration with the aims to: (1) identify barriers to breast and cervical cancer screening and detection among Black women; (2) evaluate the outcomes of the navigation component of the project; and (3) develop a research strategy to create policies to address multi-level barriers in BCCS, treatment, and follow-up care among Black women. Results: UAB and MSM lead site-based implementation, including outreach, recruitment, enrollment, navigation to screening, and data collection and analysis. Hologic and state programs provide resources, support, and services. BWHI provides scientific leadership and ensures translation of research findings into actionable strategies. Cross-site coordination ensures that implementation efforts are grounded in community priorities and informed by diverse perspectives. The added-value of this partnership results in the ability to pool data and conduct multi-state/site comparisons that support advocacy efforts and will help to establish greater impact across the South. At each site, institutional and community partnerships, across departments and clinics, have played a critical role in driving project success. This partnership brings together complementary strengths in community engagement, scientific research, and culturally responsive care, creating a powerful model for addressing cancer disparities in the South. Conclusion: The PHE illustrates how a community-academic-government-industry partnership can meaningfully address structural and individual barriers to cancer prevention and care among Black women in the South. The collaboration between BWHI, Hologic, UAB, MSM and BCCS programs demonstrates the power of aligning research and service delivery expertise with community priorities and the advocacy and resources of government and industry to reduce health disparities. As findings continue to emerge, the project will aim to inform institutional practices, shape policy, and guide the development of a research agenda focused on eliminating inequities in breast and cervical cancer outcomes. Citation Format: DeBran Tarver, Ifeoma Udoh, Samantha Whitfield, Catanya Stager, Maya Zeigler, Linda Goler Blount, Mia Keeys, Silvia Gisiger Camata, Cynthia Y. Johnson, Alison M. Caddell, Sejong Bae, Vishruti Pandya, Melissa Ryan, Elabrar Ebrahim, Pooja Mishra, Sophia Stein, Christopher Ervin, Amirah Burton-Obanla, Desiree Rivers, Timiya Nolan, Lori Bateman. Bridging gaps through partnership: A community-academic-government-industry approach to advancing cancer equity for Black women in the South [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C158.