Amelie G. Ramirez (editor) - Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos

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TheAdvancing the Science of Cancer in Latinosnational conference was a call to action for addressing cancer health disparities observed among Hispanic/Latino communities. It emerged from the need for Latino disparities researchers to seek solutions through multidisciplinary collaborations and to keep pace with the substantial advancement in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Held in San Antonio from February 21 to February 23, 2018, the conference was co-hosted by the Mays Cancer Center and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health San Antonio and sponsored by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The conference uniquely reviewed the state of the science and set an agenda for future initiatives to specifically address cancer health disparities and improve outcomes in Latino communities. While most conferences on cancer health disparities focus on policy and public health issues, this conference incorporated perspectives from basic scientists, clinicians, and population health experts in conjunction with policy and public health to emphasize the need for timely translation of research. To this end, the conference assembled an international, multidisciplinary group of speakers and attendees who explored wide-ranging issues including Latino-focused basic research, clinical best practices, effective community interventions, and policy implications. Much of the research presented was on the cutting edge of science.

Much of the Latino cancer research happening today occurs in silos by researchers who often only attend specialty meetings narrowly focused on their specific discipline, creating a missed opportunity for discussing broader, systemic issues across sectors. The value ofAdvancing the Science of Cancer in Latinosconference is that it united researchers, scientists, physicians, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and students from across the nation and beyond in an open dialogue, under one roof, to discuss the broader field of study in Latino cancer and foster collaborations that would not have occurred otherwise.

These conference proceedings give readers an overview of what is known about cancer disparities in Latinos, what is not known, and suggestions for a way forward. With the ongoing rise in the US Latino population and cancer burden, we believe these pages hold many key insights into actionable targets for basic science research, suggestions for clinical best practices and community interventions, as well as other novel strategies and advocacy opportunities to reduce these disparities.

We hope that you, the reader, will explore all of the vital research delivered, discussed, and disseminated atAdvancing the Science of Cancer in Latinosin order to gain a fresh, comprehensive perspective on Latino cancer health disparities. We anticipate this will inspire critical thinking and strategizing about how you can apply some of this research and practice into your own work at your program, institution, business, and nonprofit. We are optimistic that our scientific conference and the information in these proceedings will provide a much-needed spark that will lead to many more conferences, more collaboration, more research, and more success in reducing and eliminating cancer health disparities and improving the health and lives of the US Latino population.