Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Adjoa Kyerematen
akyerematen@nmqf.org
202-220-8505

 NMQF Launches First-of-its-Kind Comprehensive Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative in Houston’s Fifth Ward, Transforming Patient and Community Engagement

Washington, D.C. [March 12, 2025] — The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is proud to announce the next phase of its groundbreaking Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative (CSSI) – the nation’s first longitudinal cancer study that integrates early detection, intervention, and reimbursement strategies to address structural inequities in cancer care. This pioneering approach features a comprehensive registry and biorepository that will continuously survey participants on their health experiences, creating unprecedented levels of patient and community engagement. Recruitment has begun in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward with a door-to-door community canvassing outreach program.

The first participants began enrollment on March 11th. Houston is the first of 20 planned sites in multiple cities across the country. The initiative aims to enroll 100,000 participants over five years.

At the heart of this effort is the NMQF Community Health Biobank, a comprehensive registry and biorepository that collects critical health data on a range of conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease, with a focus on improving health outcomes for marginalized populations. While the broader NMQF Community Health Biobank encompasses a wide spectrum of health challenges, this specific implementation is the first registry of its kind dedicated to studying and addressing cancer disparities in high-risk communities. By gathering and analyzing data, this initiative seeks to drive equitable healthcare solutions and improve early detection, treatment, and prevention efforts.

 Comprehensive Three-Timepoint Approach

What sets CSSI apart is its three-timepoint methodology that addresses the full spectrum of cancer care challenges:

Early Detection Timepoint: The program will initially screen residents for cancer using both guideline-directed and novel screening technologies.

Intervention Timepoint: CSSI’s groundbreaking navigation study identifies and addresses logistical bottlenecks that create delays between diagnosis and treatment. Participants with positive cancer screening results will be guided through the healthcare system, ensuring timely access to confirmatory tests and treatment options, including clinical trials.

 “Too often, a positive cancer screening becomes a dead-end rather than the beginning of effective treatment, especially in underserved communities,” said NMQF President and CEO, Dr. Gary Puckrein. “Our intervention timepoint creates a seamless bridge between detection and care, with community navigators who understand local challenges and can guide patients through complex healthcare systems.”

Reimbursement Timepoint: CSSI will pilot a nationwide study to develop scalable economic models for annual cancer screenings, diagnostic tests, and treatments. This innovative approach addresses financial barriers that often prevent timely care in marginalized communities.

This milestone effort is supported by Houston Councilwoman Letitia Plummer, Council Member At-Large, who has been a strong advocate for the health and well-being of Fifth Ward residents. Councilwoman Plummer hosted the Fifth Ward Cancer Cluster Summit in 2023 and has continuously worked alongside residents to address concerns of soil and groundwater contamination related to Union Pacific Railroad and the confirmation of a cancer cluster designation in 2019 and 2021.

 “The health crisis in Fifth Ward is a call to action,” said Councilwoman Plummer. “By working together with NMQF and other stakeholders, we are bringing cutting-edge science and real solutions to a community that has suffered for far too long. What makes this initiative truly transformative is how it puts residents at the center of the process, engaging them as partners rather than just participants.”

Community Engagement at the Core

CSSI prioritizes ongoing community engagement through:

• Regular community forums where residents can discuss concerns and provide feedback on the initiative
• A Community Advisory Board comprised of local leaders and residents to guide program implementation
• Employment opportunities for community members as navigators and outreach coordinators
• Regular reporting of aggregate findings back to the community

GRACE Clinic, centrally located in this neighborhood, will serve as the clinical trial site for enrolling 200 residents in a nonintervention early detection cancer screening study. This initiative represents a public-private partnership designed to reimagine cancer detection and care in communities where an excessive burden of cancer has destroyed lives and brought misery to surviving loved ones. The partners include Quest Diagnostics, Amgen, Bayer, BioCytics, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Carolina BioOncology, Genentech, Hessian Labs, Merck, and Michigan Department of Health & Human Services. 

For more information, visit http://shiftcancer.org or contact Jenine Caulkins, SVP, Center for Clinical and Social Research at jcaulkins@nmqf.org or Sharon Thomas, CSSI Senior Program Manager at sthomas@nmqf.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 medically underrepresented communities. For more information, please visit https://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. CSSI is a multi-site, longitudinal study designed to transform cancer outcomes in 20 marginalized communities across the United States. Visit http://www.shiftcancer.org for more information.