Leading National Health Equity Organization to Launch Cancer Registry and Biorepository in Underserved Communities with Leading Community-based Cancer Center and Biotech 

Washington, D.C. – [October 24, 2024] – The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is excited to announce a collaboration with Carolina BioOncology Institute (Carolina BioOncology), a community-based, independent cancer center and BioCytics, a privately-held biotechnology company located in Huntersville, North Carolina in support of NMQF’s Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative (CSSI). 

CSSI is a multi-year, multi-site program aligned with President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot goal of reducing cancer deaths by 50% within 20 years. To ensure all communities benefit from advancements in cancer care, CSSI will focus on 20 geographic areas where cancer care inequities are most evident, beginning in Houston, Texas, and Flint, Michigan. 

Patients in these communities report barriers to quality cancer care, including health infrastructure inequities, logistical red tape or bottlenecks that exacerbate structural health disparities. CSSI aims to demonstrate that local bottlenecks in cancer care can be identified and reorganized to produce equitable care. CSSI aims to enroll 20,000 participants annually in non-invasive early detection screening and, if cancer is detected, guide patients to the best available therapies, including clinical trial opportunities. Over five years, CSSI plans to enroll 100,000 residents in this nationwide clinical study.

Building a National Registry and Biorepository of At-Risk Patients in Underserved Communities

NMQF, Carolina BioOncology, and BioCytics are collaborating to create a national registry and biorepository for CSSI, collecting critical clinical, genetic, and demographic data from 20 communities. This biorepository will support research on cancer risk factors, driving logistical changes to ease the development and deployment of new detection technologies and precision treatments. De-identified data will be accessible to researchers, helping ensure that advancements in cancer care reach underserved communities. The findings will be used to improve local cancer care logistics, advancing the Cancer Moonshot’s goal of reducing cancer mortality in these populations by addressing bottlenecks through a data-driven approach.

“Our team has been working closely with NMQF over the past year to design and develop this CSSI clinical trial as a base platform to build a registry and biorepository for underserved communities who are at higher risk of cancer,”  said Dr. John Powderly, Founder and President of Carolina BioOncology and BioCytics. “We plan to use this collaborative platform to expand a network of clinical research sites and deliver cutting-edge clinical trials with next-generation technologies for early detection and early interventions of cancer, including individualized immunotherapies.  Over the next decade, our clinical research platform will shift cancers to earlier stages for earlier cures.”

“The partnership between NMQF, Carolina BioOncology, and BioCytics represents a pivotal first step in addressing cancer care disparities,” said Dr. Gary Puckrein, President and CEO of the National Minority Quality Forum. “The future lies in building a logistical framework, and CSSI focuses on utilizing data, research, and collaborations to ensure that no community is overlooked in the battle against cancer. This initiative will extend the objectives of the Cancer Moonshot to the communities most in need, providing hope for better cancer outcomes and advancing health equity for all”. 

For more information about the Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative, please visit http://www.shiftcancer.org

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About the National Minority Quality Forum

Founded in 1998, National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is a United States-based, healthcare research, education, and advocacy organization whose mission is to reduce patient risk and advance health equity by assuring optimal care for all. The mission is to reduce patient risk of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, disabilities, and death, while also promoting high-quality, long lives, particularly for the most vulnerable. NMQF utilizes data and research to support and mobilize healthcare organizations, leaders, policymakers, and patients in advocating for optimal care for every individual, especially those in minoritized communities. For more information, please visit http://www.nmqf.org.

About the Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative

The Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative is a flagship program of the National Minority Quality Forum, focusing on shifting the cancer care continuum to earlier stages through innovative and collaborative approaches. The initiative seeks to address barriers and disparities in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment, particularly in minority and underserved communities. http://www.shiftcancer.org

About Carolina BioOncology Institute and BioCytics

Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), a cancer treatment and clinical trial facility, and BioCytics, a privately held health technology company, were founded in 2005 by Dr. John Powderly and are co-located in Huntersville, North Carolina. CBOI is an independent community-based cancer research clinic that serves the Southeast region as a referral hub for metastatic cancer patients’ access to Phase I clinical research trials. BioCytics is developing an immuno-oncology platform for treating solid tumors with the patient’s own immune cells. To learn more, please visit www.carolinabiooncology.org or www.biocytics.com.