The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Disparities Research Partnership Program: a unique funding model 20 years later.

The burden of cancer and access to effective treatment are not experienced equally by all in the United States. For underserved populations that often access the health-care system when their cancers are in advanced disease stages, radiation oncology services are essential. In 2001, the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Radiation Research Program created and implemented the Cancer Disparities Research Partnership Program (CDRP).

Analysis of accumulated SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in North Carolina: The COVID-19 Community Research Partnership.

Introduction: The COVID-19 Community Research Partnership is a population-based longitudinal syndromic and sero-surveillance study. The study includes over 17,000 participants from six healthcare systems in North Carolina who submitted over 49,000 serology results. The purpose of this study is to use these serology data to estimate the cumulative proportion of the North Carolina population that has either been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or developed a measurable humoral response to vaccination.

Changing Attitudes toward the COVID-19 Vaccine among North Carolina Participants in the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership.

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine acceptance is variable. We surveyed participants in the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership from 17 December 2020 to 13 January 2021 to assess vaccine receptiveness. Vaccine uptake was then monitored until 15 May 2021; 20,232 participants responded to the receptiveness survey with vaccination status accessed in 18,874 participants via daily follow-up surveys (participants not completing daily surveys ≥30 days to 15 May 2021, were excluded).

Survey of Adherence with COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors During the 2020 Thanksgiving and Winter Holidays Among Members of the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership.

Prevention behaviors represent important public health tools to limit spread of SARS-CoV-2. Adherence with recommended public health prevention behaviors among 20000 + members of a COVID-19 syndromic surveillance cohort from the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States was assessed via electronic survey following the 2020 Thanksgiving and winter holiday (WH) seasons. Respondents were predominantly non-Hispanic Whites (90%), female (60%), and ≥ 50 years old (59%).

Single-Arm Phase 2 Trial of Elective Nodal Dose Reduction for Patients With Locoregionally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Purpose: To evaluate a novel chemoradiation therapy (CRT) regimen for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) incorporating a lower intensity modulated radiation therapy dose to electively treated neck lymph nodes than is currently standard.

Methods And Materials: Eligible patients had locally advanced SCCHN of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx. The 7-week CRT course consisted of weekly cisplatin at 35 mg/m concurrently with sequential-boost intensity modulated radiation therapy: 36 Gy to high- and low-risk planning target volumes followed by a sequential boost to the high-risk planning target volume to 70 Gy.

National Cancer Institute's Cancer Disparities Research Partnership Program: Experience and Lessons Learned.

Purpose: To increase access of underserved/health disparities communities to National Cancer Institute (NCI) clinical trials, the Radiation Research Program piloted a unique model - the Cancer Disparities Research Partnership (CDRP) program. CDRP targeted community hospitals with a limited past NCI funding history and provided funding to establish the infrastructure for their clinical research program.

Methods: Initially, 5-year planning phase funding was awarded to six CDRP institutions through a cooperative agreement (U56).

Expanded indications for the deep plane cervicofacial flap: aesthetic reconstruction of large combined temporofrontal and brow defects.

The deep plane cervicofacial (DPCF) rotation advancement flap has been well described for coverage of cheek and lower eyelid defects. The extension of this flap for coverage of complex combined temporofrontal and brow defects has not been previously described. The primary investigator (E.

Oncoplastic surgery and radiation therapy for breast conservation: early outcomes.

Purpose: To analyze a multidisciplinary community experience with oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) and postoperative radiation therapy (RT).

Methods: The records of 79 patients with localized breast cancer who underwent OBS+RT were reviewed. OBS included immediate reconstruction and contralateral mammoreduction.

Phase II trial of hyperfractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy and concurrent weekly cisplatin for Stage III and IVa head-and-neck cancer.

Purpose: To investigate a novel chemoradiation regimen designed to maximize locoregional control (LRC) and minimize toxicity for patients with advanced head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods And Materials: Patients received hyperfractionated intensity modulated radiation therapy (HIMRT) in 1.25-Gy fractions b.

A bridge between academic and community radiation oncology treatment planning.

Purpose: To evaluate Telesynergy (TS) as a method of interactive treatment planning between academic and community radiation oncology departments.

Methods: Through a grant from the National Cancer Institute to improve cancer outcomes for underserved populations, community radiation oncologists at New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) in Wilmington, North Carolina, partnered with those at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. TS suites were installed at both sites to facilitate teleconferencing and review of treatment planning for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).