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Solution-Based Research to Address Disparities in Precision Cancer Health: A Case Report Elucidating the Design and Rationale of the Illinois Cancer Health Equity Research (I-CHER) Center

Author

Listed:
  • Frank A. Granata

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, 1603 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Aileen Shen

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Karissa Cerda

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Monet Jones

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Osei Bekoe

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Erica Seltzer

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Julie Bobitt

    (Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 840 South Wood Street, Suite 1020N, MC 787, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Margaret Wright

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Paola Torres

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Carolina Bujanda

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Angelina Izguerra

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • L. A. Naiche

    (Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 835 S Wolcott Ave, E-202, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Vivian Pan

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Mile Square Health Center (FQHC), 1220 S Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60608, USA)

  • Ana Waite

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Keith Naylor

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 840 South Wood Street, Suite 1020N, MC 787, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Patrick Smith

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Population Oral Health, University of Illinois College of Dentistry, 801 S. Paulina (MC 621), Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Ryan Nguyen

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 840 South Wood Street, Suite 1020N, MC 787, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Leslie Carnahan

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, 1603 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Vida Henderson

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Kent Hoskins

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 840 South Wood Street, Suite 1020N, MC 787, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Chinwe Ewenighi

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 835 S Wolcott Ave, E-202, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Hunter K. Holt

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 1919 West Taylor Street, Room 196 Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Shaveta Khosla

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • M. J. Godoy-Calderon

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Saria Lofton

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Population Health Nursing Science, University of Illinois College of Nursing, 845 S. Damen Ave., MC 802, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Ines Pulido

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 840 S Wood St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Ameen Salahudeen

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 840 South Wood Street, Suite 1020N, MC 787, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    AI.Health4all Center for Health Equity, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 1853 W Polk St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 900 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA)

  • Elizabeth Rivera

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Joanne Glenn

    (Women on Top of Their Game, 46 East 26th Street, Chicago, IL 60616, USA)

  • Candace Henley

    (The Blue Hat Foundation, 46 E 26th St., Chicago, IL 60616, USA)

  • Charles Walton

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Karen Sharer

    (American Cancer Society, 150 S Wacker Dr. Suite #2100, Chicago, IL 60606, USA)

  • Ally Lopshire

    (American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, 655 15th Street, NW, Suite 503, Washington, DC 20005, USA)

  • Marcus Evans

    (State Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.—33rd District, 8500 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, USA)

  • Ian Jasenof

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 840 South Wood Street, Suite 1020N, MC 787, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Mile Square Health Center (FQHC), 1220 S Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60608, USA)

  • Vijayakrishna Gadi

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 840 South Wood Street, Suite 1020N, MC 787, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Pamela Ganschow

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 840 South Wood Street, Suite 1020N, MC 787, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Mile Square Health Center (FQHC), 1220 S Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60608, USA)

  • Jan Kitajewski

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 835 S Wolcott Ave, E-202, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Marian Fitzgibbon

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 840 S Wood St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Yamilé Molina

    (University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, 1603 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
    Mile Square Health Center (FQHC), 1220 S Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Equity in precision cancer health, defined here as equitable access to inclusive cancer risk assessment, cancer risk reduction/management, and risk-appropriate cancer healthcare from prevention through survivorship, is critical for addressing broader population cancer disparities. Specifically, we describe the impact of the Illinois Cancer Health Equity Research (I-CHER) Center on precision cancer health equity, including how the Center cumulatively served >10,000 residents from under-resourced communities; disseminated findings to >300 members of the local cancer health disparities workforce; and translated scientific solutions into sustained clinical practice and two state laws. The objective of this case report is to describe the I-CHER Center’s multisectoral structure; participatory administrative processes for research; early implementation challenges and tensions across sectors; and solutions that contributed to early center-wide successes. This case report offers one example of the administrative infrastructure needed for advancing scientific solutions in precision cancer health equity within a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) and its internal federally qualified health center (FQHC).

Suggested Citation

  • Frank A. Granata & Aileen Shen & Karissa Cerda & Monet Jones & Osei Bekoe & Erica Seltzer & Julie Bobitt & Margaret Wright & Paola Torres & Carolina Bujanda & Angelina Izguerra & L. A. Naiche & Vivian, 2026. "Solution-Based Research to Address Disparities in Precision Cancer Health: A Case Report Elucidating the Design and Rationale of the Illinois Cancer Health Equity Research (I-CHER) Center," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 23(4), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:23:y:2026:i:4:p:446-:d:1910799
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