Cancer Prevention and Control
RESEARCH PLATFORM FOR
THE MOON SHOTS PROGRAM
- Research Platforms
- Cancer Prevention and Control
We're accelerating Moon Shot initiatives
Estimates based on a broad range of scientific evidence indicate that more than 50% of cancers can be prevented. Approximately 50 million lives worldwide could be saved this decade by implementing known, effective preventive strategies. However, disseminating these life-saving prevention messages and enabling sustainable, cancer control initiatives requires sophisticated, cooperative efforts.
The Cancer Prevention and Control Platform drives impact on behalf of MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer through the lenses of both cancer prevention and control, and community and social impact, broadly. This work represents MD Anderson’s primary, focused activation of expertise in the science of public health practice, community-based dissemination of evidence-based practices, applied implementation science, and impact measurement for community-facing initiatives.
Our Goals
- Accelerate the development, dissemination and amplification of evidence-based strategies, community services, policy interventions, and knowledge targeting measurable reductions in cancer incidence and mortality at a population level.
- Strengthen health systems and clinical environments across a range of evidence-based actions critical to cancer prevention, early detection and access to services.
- Build and implement evidence-based practice at scale through place-based initiatives in health within priority regions/communities with long-standing inequity and high disease burden.
- Design, implement and measure targeted initiatives which address upstream social drivers of health (e.g. food insecurity), key risk factor areas (e.g. HPV, tobacco), and gaps for populations who are medically underserved communities (e.g. hereditary cancers).
- Build deep capacity of organizational partners and health systems critical to execution in program evaluation, measurement, strategy, governance, program delivery, fund development, leadership, staffing and financial sustainability.
The platform is guided by the ideology that research advances in cancer medicine must be shared widely and translated, practically and rapidly, into health systems, communities and daily life. By working closely with the Moon Shot teams, we're ensuring that our prevention strategies impact population-level health outcomes on a transformative scale. Our current key initiatives include:
- Place-Based Investments in Health
*Be Well Communities™ - Health System Strengthening for Cancer Control
*Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccination Initiative
*Breast Cancer gene (BRCA) Quality Improvement Dissemination Program - Initiative Acceleration
*Health Equity Research and Practice
*Texas Health Equity Alliance for Breast Cancer (THEAL) - Impact Evaluation and Public Health Intelligence
*Impact Evaluation Core
*Joint Center on Geospatial Analysis and Health
Platform Leaders
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Ernest Hawk, M.D.
Vice President and Head, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences
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Mark Moreno
Vice President, Government Relations
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Jennifer Litton, M.D., MHCM
Vice President, Clinical Research
A community approach to prevention
Building on MD Anderson’s decades at the forefront of cancer prevention research, Be Well Communities uses best practices to deploy science-based cancer prevention strategies to communities with the greatest need.
Read MorePublications
Click the categories below to see publications
Place-Based Investments in Health
- Tran, T, Song, S, Texeira, AJ, Rechis, R, Nelson, KC. Educational interventions to promote sun-protection behaviors in adolescents in the United States: A systematic review. Pediatr Dermatol. 2023; 1- 5. doi: 10.1111/pde.15335
- An evaluation of aligning systems for health in Texas: What works, for whom, and under what circumstances for advancing health equity? Comprehensive report. Texas Health Institute (August 2022).
- Community Outreach and Engagement: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center case study. National Cancer Institute. (2022).
- Raber, M., Rechis, R., LaRue, D.M., Ho-Pham, T., Oestman, K., Walsh, M.T., Kizub, D., Ma, H., Galvan, E., Zhao, H., Gonzalez, X.L., Hu, J., Basen-Engquist, K. Enhancing the utilization of healthy living interventions among cancer survivors in historically underserved populations and communities. Cancer Causes Control (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-023-01701-2
- Raber M, Robertson M, Le T, Gatus L, Rechis R, Oestman K, Basen-Engquist K. Patterns of home cooking practices among participants in a behavioral weight loss program: A latent class analysis. Appetite, Volume 184, 2023, 106504, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.106504.
- Lee CY, Robertson MC, Johnston H, Le T, Raber M, Rechis R, Oestman K, Neff A, Macneish A, Basen-Engquist KM. Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Worksite-Weight-Loss Program for Cancer Prevention among School-District Employees with Overweight and Obesity. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 29;20(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010538
- Lee, CY, Robertson, MC, Servino, K, Le, T, Raber, M, Oestman, KB, Basen-Engquist, K. Impact of COVID-19 on a worksite weight loss program for employees with overweight and obesity. Obes Sci Pract. 2022; 1- 9. https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.653
- Robertson MC, Lee CY, Wu IH, Liao Y, Raber M, Parker N, Le T, Gatus L, Basen-Engquist KM. Changes in physical activity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with overweight and obesity: an interrupted time series analysis with historical controls. J Behav Med. 2022 Apr;45(2):186-196. Epub 2021 Oct 26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-021-00261-7 PMID: 34698998
- Robertson MC, Raber M, Liao Y, Wu I, Parker N, Gatus L, Le T, Durand CP, Basen-Engquist KM. Patterns of self-monitoring technology use and weight loss in people with overweight or obesity. Transl Behav Med. 2021 Aug 13;11(8):1537-1547. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibab015 PMID: 33837792; PMCID: PMC8604273.
- Rechis, R, Oestman, KB, Caballero, E, Brewster, A, Walsh Jr., MT, Basen-Engquist, K, Gershenwald, J, Tektiridis, JH, Moreno, M, Williams, PA, Treiman, K, Garza, PD, Hawk, E. Be Well Communities™: Mobilizing communities to promote wellness and stop cancer before it starts. Cancer Causes & Control, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-021-01439-9
- Liao Y, Robertson MC, Winne A, Wu IHC, Le TA, Balachandran DD, Basen-Engquist KM. Investigating the within-person relationships between activity levels and sleep duration using Fitbit data. Transl Behav Med. 2021 Mar 16;11(2):619-624. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaa071 PMID: 32667039; PMCID: PMC7963288.
- Robertson MC, Green CE, Liao Y, Durand CP, Basen-Engquist KM. Self-efficacy and Physical Activity in Overweight and Obese Adults Participating in a Worksite Weight Loss Intervention: Multistate Modeling of Wearable Device Data. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2020 Apr;29(4):769-776. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-0907 Epub 2019 Dec 23. PMID: 31871110; PMCID:PMC7125025.
- The Practical Playbook II, Building Multisector Partnerships That Work, Michener JL, Castrucci, Bradley DW, et al. Section V, Sustainability and Finance: Supporting Partnerships over Time, Chapter 38, “Case Study: BUILDing Ties with the Business Community.” Katherine Oestman, Rosalind Bello, Catherine Chennisi, and Anna Brewster.
- Aiyer JN, Raber M, Bello RS, Brewster A, Caballero E, Chennisi C, Durand C, Galindez M, Oestman K, Saifuddin M, Tektiridis J, Young R, Sharma SV. (2019). A Pilot Food Prescription Program Promotes Produce Intake and Decreases Food Insecurity.” Translational Behavioral Medicine, 9(5):922-930. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz112
- Noelle, K., LoConte, N.K., Gershenwald, J.E., Thomson, C., Crane, T., Harmon, G., Rechis, R. (June 2018). Lifestyle Modifications and Policy Implications for Primary and Secondary Cancer Prevention: Diet, Exercise, Sun Safety and Alcohol Reduction. Published in the American Society for Clinical Oncology 2018 Conference Educational Book, Chicago, IL. https://doi.org/10.1200/EDBK_200093
- Improving Health Through a Sustainable Food System: North Pasadena, Texas. Harris County, Texas BUILD Health Partnership: Evaluation Report. (December 2017).
Health Systems Strengthening for Cancer Control
- Bednar EM, Rauh-Hain JA, Garcia JJ, de Aguinaga N, Powell MA, Peral SL, Nitecki R, Jorgensen K, Rudy NL, Lu KH, Leath CA, Scarinci IC; Experiences of Family Communication and Cascade Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer in Medically Underserved Populations–A Qualitative Study. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2023; https://doi.org/10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-23-0303
- Bello RS, Walsh Jr MT, Harper B, Amos Jr CE, Oestman K, Nutt S, Galindez M, Block K, Rechis R, Bednar EM, Tektiridis J. Foxhall L, Moreno M, Shete S, Hawk E. Creating and Activating an Implementation Community to Drive HPV Vaccine Uptake in Texas: The Role of an NCI-Designated Cancer Center. Vaccines. 2023 Jun 20;11(6):1128. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11061128
- E.M. Bednar, M. Chen, M.T. Walsh, Jr., A.L. Eppolito, M.H. Klein, K. Teed, B. Hodge, J. Hunter, H.G. Chao, D. Davis, W. Serchion, C. Yobbi, R. Krukenberg, S.B. Jenkinson, J.J. Moore, C. Garcia, F. Gonzalez, T. Murray, L.D. Nielsen, B. Ho, M. Haas, S.B. Greenzweig, A. Anderson, C. Johnson, N.A. Morman, E. Bowdish, E. Wise, J.N. Cooper, P. Kefalas Russ, K. Tondo-Steele, B.F. de Gracia, B. Levin, K. Mattie, K. Zarnawski, M. Kalasinski, J. Stone, C. O’Brien, A. Bream, A.M. Kennedy, R.A. Paul, M. Bilbao, M. Romero, R.L. Carr, J.M. Siettmann, A.K. Vercruyssen, K. Leon, B.K. Arun, A.V. Grainger, D.P. Warshal, E. Bowman, T.A. Goedde, D. Halaharvi, K. Rath, G.Grana, L. Mina, K.H. Lu. Outcomes of the BRCA Quality Improvement Dissemination Program: An initiative to improve patient receipt of cancer genetics services at five health systems. Gynecologic Oncology (2023) 172, 106-114 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.03.016
- E.M. Bednar, B. Harper, M.T. Walsh Jr., R. Rechis, M. Bilbao, R.L. Carr, A.L. Eppolito, T. Goedde, G. Grana, B. Levin, K. Mattie, N.A. Morman, K. Rath, P. Russ, J.M. Siettmann, D. Warshal, E. Wise, C. Yobbi, K.H. Lu. Implementation and Outcome Evaluations of a Multi-Site Improvement Program in Cancer Genetics. Journal of Genetic Counseling, (2022), https://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1633
- E.M. Bednar, R.Nitecki, K.J. Krause, J.A. Rauh-Hain. Interventions to Improve Delivery of Cancer Genetics Services in the United States: A Scoping Review. Genetics in Medicine (2022), 24 (6), 1176-1186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gim.2022.03.002
- E.M. Bednar, C.C. Sun, S. McCurdy, S. Vernon. Assessing Relatives’ Readiness for Hereditary Cancer Cascade Genetic Testing. Genetics in Medicine (2020), 22, 719-726. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-019-0735-3
- S.A. Cohen, A. Bradbury, V. Henderson, K. Hoskins, E.Bednar, B.K. Arun. Genetic Counseling and Testing in a Community Setting: Quality, Access, and Efficiency. American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book: Cancer Prevention, Hereditary Genetics, and Epidemiology (2019), 39, 34-44. https://doi.org/10.1200/EDBK_238937 Epub 2019 May 17.
- E. M. Hinchcliff*, E.M. Bednar*, K.H. Lu, J.A. Rauh-Hain. Disparities in Gynecologic Cancer Genetics Evaluation. Gynecologic Oncology (2019), 153, 184-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.01.024 Epub 2019 Jan 31. *equal contribution
- E.M. Bednar, C.C. Sun, B. Camacho, J. Terrell, A. Rieber, L. Ramondetta, R. Freedman, K.H. Lu. Dissemination of the universal genetic testing initiative to a diverse, indigent patient population at a county hospital gynecologic oncology clinic. Gynecologic Oncology (2019), 152(2), 328-333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.12.001 Epub 2018 Dec 8.
- E.M. Bednar, M.T. Walsh Jr., E. Baker, K.I. Muse, H.D. Oakley, R.C. Krukenberg, C.S. Dresbold, S.B. Jenkinson, A.L. Eppolito, K.B. Teed, M.H. Klein, N.A. Morman, E.C. Bowdish, P.K. Russ, E.E. Wise, J.N. Cooper, M.W. Method, J.W. Henson, A.V. Grainger, B.K. Arun, K.H. Lu. Creation and Implementation of an Environmental Scan to Assess Cancer Genetics Services at Three Oncology Care Settings. Journal of Genetic Counseling (2018), 27(6), 1482-1496. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-018-0262-4
- M.C. Roberts; W.D. Dotson; C.S. DeVore; E.M. Bednar; D.J. Bowen; R. T.G. Ganiats; R.F. Green; G. Hurst; A.R. Philp; C.N. Ricker, A.C. Sturm, A.M. Trepanier; J.L. Williams; H.A. Zierhut; K.A. Wilemon; H. Hampel. Delivery of Cascade Screening for Hereditary Conditions: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Health Affairs (2018), 37(5), 801-808. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1630
- E.M. Bednar, H.D. Oakley, C.C. Sun, C.C. Burke, M.F. Munsell, S.N. Westin, K.H. Lu. A universal genetic testing initiative for patients with high-grade, non-mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer and the implications for cancer treatment. Gynecologic Oncology (2017), 146(2), 398-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2017.05.037 Epub 2017 Jun 10
Initiative Acceleration
Jemima JC, Kaleemullah T, McPherson H, Mahata K, Morrow RB, Bujnowski D, Johnston A, Danho M, Siddiqui N, Walsh Jr. MT, Haley SA, Sirajuddin AM, Schauer T, Wu M, Rechis R, Galvan E, Correa N, Browning N, Ganelin D, Gonzalez J, Lofton S, Banerjee D, Sharma SV. Building and Advancing Coalition Capacity to Promote Health Equity: Insights from the Health Equity Collective's Approach to Addressing Social Determinants of Health. Health Equity. Dec 2021.872-878. http://doi.org/10.1089/heq.2021.0012