What We Do

Our initiative has four goals:

Define and monitor the Wilmot catchment area’s cancer burden and community health needs

Through a robust, community-friendly, web-based tool — the Cancer Visual Analytic System (CANVAS) — we generate real-time maps of cancer incidence and mortality to guide the work done by our office and in our communities. Qualitative methods assure that community voices are in synergy with Wilmot outreach and cancer prevention interventions.

Mobilize and empower partnerships to impact community-engaged cancer research and control initiatives

Using community-academic partnership models, Wilmot COE guides Wilmot's engagement strategy and informs research relevant to the catchment area. The Wilmot Cancer Community Action Council (CCAC) and Community Advisory Boards are fundamental to this goal. The CCAC helps organize additional community engagement activities, such as community dialogues and biannual retreats, which bring together community perspectives and Wilmot scientists and leadership.  

Foster community-engaged cancer research and enhance equitable participation in clinical trials

Our team, alongside our Cancer Community Action Council, works with Wilmot scientists and leaders to ensure that community voices and identified disparities guide Wilmot’s cutting-edge research. We offer pilot funds for project development and connect health disparities researchers across programs.

Disseminate evidence-based cancer control and education initiatives to promote equity and inform policies

We share scientific findings and community programs through a network of 13 cancer care locations, 5 affiliated rural cancer care locations, 11 academic partners, and 146 primary care practices.