In 2001, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) provided funds to support the Increasing Access to Clinical and Educational Studies (
ACES) Project of the Thomas Jefferson University, Kimmel
Cancer Center in Philadelphia. The
ACES Project enabled the Center to engage in the systematic development of approaches for reducing
cancer health disparities among African Americans in Philadelphia. This project brought together community partners, clinical partners,
cancer prevention and control experts, and staff from an NCI-designated
cancer center to develop and implement a community-based outreach education program, a special populations investigator (SPI) training program, and SPI pilot studies in
cancer screening and clinical trials participation. At the end of 5 years, the
ACES Project had 1) organized a steering committee, expert panel, and a network of community collaborators and clinical partners; 2) implemented a clinical trials education program for community-based nurses, lay health advocates active in community organizations, and health ministries in community churches; 3) mentored 4 SPIs in
cancer prevention and control research; 4) completed SPI pilot studies; and 5) leveraged these activities to gain support for
cancer health disparities related research. The Project established a successful dialogue between an NCI-designated
cancer center and the African American population related to
cancer research, and enabled SPIs from the community to adapt evidence-informed interventions for application in
cancer prevention and control research. Lessons learned from the Project can guide the implementation of such projects in the future.
Cancer 2006. (c) 2006 American Cancer Society.