# Patient and Community Engagement Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $120,279

## Abstract

PCEC Project Summary
Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors represents an important domain of precision oncology as a
biomarker-driven approach to cancer treatment. However, the benefits of precision oncology among African
Americans as a disparity population may be limited by their lack of representation in genomic research that
informs immunotherapy discoveries. There is longstanding concern about the representation of African
Americans in genomic research with acknowledgement that genomic literacy and medical mistrust are barriers
to genomic research participation. The proposed Patient and Community Education Core (PCEC) will offer
services to support high levels of engagement among African American study participants as well as the broader
African American community in metropolitan Detroit. The PCEC will the use the HealthLink model, a participatory
research approach, to convene a P20 program-specific Cancer Action Council. This council will be comprised
of cancer survivors, caregivers, and advocates who will collaborate with the PCEC team and study investigators
to increase genomic literacy by building awareness of precision oncology, genomic research, and
immunotherapy; directly address medical mistrust and suspicion of medical trials among African American
patients and community members through culturally appropriate educational approaches; and help to plan and
conduct community dialogues that will build strong relationships between study investigators and community
members. PCEC aims are to: Aim 1: Coordinate a council of local community stakeholders – the P20 Cancer
Action Council (CAC) - that will collaborate with the Patient and Community Engagement Core (PCEC) team on
the development and execution of PCEC services. Aim 2: Implement strategies to increase genomic literacy
and awareness of immunotherapy among African American patients and community members. Aim 3: Provide
ongoing feedback to all projects on strategies to optimize recruitment and retention of African American
participants. Aim 4: Support dissemination of research project progress and findings to study participants and
community members. The PCEC is distinct from the other proposed cores in its focus on the ways in which
community stakeholder involvement can improve patient/participant experience, and this core will ensure that
community members are well-informed regarding the scientific and equity-based rationale for the proposed
studies as well as developmental projects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10491121
- **Project number:** 5P20CA262735-02
- **Recipient organization:** WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Hayley S. Thompson
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $120,279
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-20 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10491121

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10491121, Patient and Community Engagement Core (5P20CA262735-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10491121. Licensed CC0.

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