Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP)

Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP) is funded by the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. Through a systematic and comprehensive approach, we collaborate, cooperate, share resources and information, and build capacity between researchers, trainees, outreach workers and organizations to advance research and training.

GMaP Region 5

Region 5 serves Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa and Guam. We are a team of institutions, NCI cancer centers, organizations, community health educators, scientists and students. In our pursuit of ending cancer health disparities and making quality cancer care accessible for everyone, Region 5 has three primary aims:

Advance the science of cancer health disparities research
Promote the development of the next generation of competitive, underrepresented cancer and cancer health disparities researchers
Contribute to measurable reductions in cancer health disparities

Programs and Funding

We are committed to strengthening our regional network by supporting the next generation of cancer and cancer health disparities researchers through various training opportunities.

We also fund disparities projects through our pilot award program.

Learn more

Community Health Educators

Region 5 Community Health Educators (CHE) are funded through two of the National Cancer Institute's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities programs.

National Outreach Network (NON)

Working from NCI-designated Cancer Centers, NON CHEs help underserved communities through the following activities:

Local Education and Outreach

Identify gaps and barriers to the integration of community education and outreach within the cancer center and propose strategies to resolve them.
Identify specific ways community education and outreach can enhance the research and outreach efforts of the cancer center grant.
Adapt and implement education and outreach strategies, aligned with the cancer center focus, and linked by NCI priorities and GMaP regional disparity issues.
Identify education and outreach resources and strategies for further testing, as appropriate.

Community

Develop and maintain academic and community partnerships to enable access to and delivery of culturally appropriate, evidence-based cancer information and education to underserved communities, locally and regionally.
Collaborate with academic, research, community and regional NCI partners to develop, implement and assess disparities-focused education and outreach efforts linked to local, regional and NCI research priorities.

NCI/GMaP Priorities

Increase awareness and adoption of NCI recommendations on cancer prevention, early detection and treatment through regional dissemination of information and education materials.
Advise and assist in message development and content for culturally-appropriate study brochures, curricula and educational materials.
Disseminate relevant NCI messages, materials, programs and research opportunities.
Assist with education and outreach activities aligned with NCI priorities and regional issues, and conducted in collaboration with NIH/NCI-supported research partners, as well as academic, regional and community partners, to increase awareness, knowledge and positive behavior among underserved communities in prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer; enhance access to cancer care services; and to promote clinical trials and/or biospecimen research participation.

Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (PACHE)

The PACHE grant requires projects address cancer research, cancer training and cancer outreach. They can optionally cover cancer education, with some PACHE partnerships focused on cancer education funding NON CHEs to conduct outreach activities that target specific communities.