UF Health Cancer Center co-hosts Cancer Implementation Science Symposium in Kenya

The University of Florida Health Cancer Center co-hosted the inaugural Cancer Implementation Science Symposium over two days in June with Mount Kenya University, drawing researchers, faculty, policy advocates, and students.

A group of conference attendees poses for a group photo.
The UF Health Cancer Center co-hosted the Cancer Implementation Science Symposium in June, which featured presentations from Rahma Mkuu, Ph.D., and Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D.

Cervical cancer prevention and early detection was a main focus of the symposium, held June 19-20 on the campus of Mount Kenya University. Cervical cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in Kenya and the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. The symposium aimed to provide a forum for cancer researchers to share their latest research and learn best practices for implementing effective interventions.

Two UF Health Cancer Center researchers presented at the symposium. Rahma Mkuu, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of health outcomes and biomedical informatics in the UF College of Medicine, discussed the journey of cervical cancer survivors in rural Kenya, noting her study’s findings that most women had financial challenges leading to delays in starting care. She also noted that most of the participants were forced to travel to different health facilities for each test or treatment due to unclear referral pathways, increasing the costs of cancer treatment.

Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D., associate director for community outreach and engagement at the Cancer Center, gave a presentation on implementation science, which focuses on research that brings evidence-based interventions to practice. Salloum, a professor and director of the division of implementation science and health interventions in the department of health outcomes and biomedical informatics, also co-facilitated a workshop on grant writing, sharing tips on the best way to pitch ideas.

At the UF Health Cancer Center, Mkuu and Salloum are members of the Cancer Control and Population Sciences research program.

Another UF researcher, Khoa Nguyen, Pharm.D., a clinical assistant professor in the department of pharmacotherapy and translational research in the UF College of Pharmacy, presented on harnessing technology for cancer prevention and control.

In addition to the University of Florida and Mount Kenya University, the conference drew speakers and attendees from Florida State University, Rutgers University, the University of Missouri, Notre Dame University, the University of North Carolina, John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Mama Ngina University College, the United States International University-Africa, Haramaya University, the National Cancer Institute of Kenya, and the Kilele Health Association, a Kenyan nonprofit.

Read more about the symposium.

Watch an interview about the symposium with TV47 Kenya below:

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