EDUCATION
The ACCN conducts cancer education and outreach activities throughout central and northern Appalachia in collaboration with community and clinical partners.  Since May 2005, ACCN regional staff have assisted community and clinical partners conduct over 70 cancer awareness activities, reaching thousands of people in Appalachia.

The goals of ACCN-sponsored Education Activities are:

1. To increase community awareness of colorectal and cervical cancer with the goal of increasing participation in screening;
2. To increase participation in screening behaviors among rural Appalachians for the early detection of colorectal and cervical cancer;
3. To contribute to primary prevention of lung cancer by providing education about smoking for Appalachian residents;
4. To increase awareness of and participation in clinical trials; and
5. To increase community understanding of cancer health disparities. 

If you are a representative of a community or clinical organization in central or northern Appalachia and would like to explore how ACCN can assist you in planning or implementing a cancer control project in your area, please contact the ACCN regional office nearest you (link to either the Regional Map or Contact Us)

RESEARCH

The ultimate goal of the ACCN is to advance our understanding of the environmental, societal, behavioral, and biological factors that contribute to the disparities in cancer incidence and mortality among rural Appalachian populations.

The specific goals of the ACCN Research Program are to:

1. Conduct community-based participatory research to reduce cancer health disparities in local communities;
2. Promote the development of pilot projects that complement and address the initial research priorities of the ACCN, including primary and secondary prevention of lung, cervical and colorectal cancers in Appalachia;
3. Promote the development of full RO1-type projects based on results of pilot projects;
4. Train researchers in community-based participatory research to reduce cancer health disparities, particularly researchers from racial/ethnic minority and underserved populations;
5. Develop an ACCN-wide program to address the challenge of recruitment to clinical trials; and 
6. Promote the adoption, replication, implementation and diffusion of successful programs in Appalachian communities.

PILOT PROJECTS

A primary focus of ACCN research activities is the development of mentored pilot projects for junior investigators through the ACCN Pilot Project Program.  The ACCN is eligible to submit up to 4 pilot project applications to NCI per year. These projects must be led by junior investigators (any investigator who has never had an RO1 qualifies), with senior ACCN investigators serving as mentors on the projects.  Pilot projects that address lung, cervical and colorectal cancers in Appalachia and involve community-based participatory research will be given priority.  Pilot projects are funded at $50,000 in direct costs for a 1 year period.  Applications (PHS 398 Format) will be accepted in April and November of each year.  Please see below for additional information, or contact Eugene Lengerich, ACCN Research Coordinator. 

IVB1a.  Pilot Project RFA (Not Available Yet)
IVB1b.  ACCN Pilot Project Application Guidelines (Don’t Have these yet)   

IVB1c.  PHS 398 Forms

TRAINING

The overall goal of the ACCN Training Program is to provide a structure and support for training in community-based participatory research techniques and philosophy to contribute to the reduction of cancer health disparities in Appalachia.  There is no restriction on trainee gender, race or ethnicity, but recruitment efforts emphasize involving individuals from Appalachia, a special population with pronounced cancer health disparities.  The ACCN Training Program participants will develop community-based participatory pilot intervention research projects designed to improve understanding of and to aid in reducing cancer health disparities.

The specific goals of the ACCN Training Program are to: 

1. Implement plans for a curriculum-based cancer prevention and control training program focusing on community-based participatory research methods applied to cancer epidemiology, behavioral science, tobacco control, and health policy;
2.  Recruit predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and provide them with at least two mentors to guide them in navigating a program that includes a specialized curriculum of instruction, long-term research experiences, production of scholarly presentations and publications, and guidance in selecting additional didactic and experiential learning opportunities; and
3.  Rigorously evaluate the training program. 

The Kentucky Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program (KCPCTP) is based at the University of Kentucky ACCN Headquarters, and serves as a partner program to the ACCN Training Program.  If you are a predoctoral or postdoctoral student interested in cancer prevention and control in Appalachia, please visit the KCPCTP website for additional information and application instructions: http://preventiontraining.uky.edu

Training opportunities for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees are also available at other ACCN regional offices.  Please contact the ACCN regional office nearest you for additional information (Link to either Regional map or Contact Us).