Cancer Prevention Programs
Division of Family and Community Medicine Research
Texas Tech Health El Paso – Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
Our Mission
The mission of the Division of Family and Community Medicine Research is to advance the science of family medicine by generating knowledge that improves the health of the predominantly Hispanic U.S.-Mexico border population we serve.
The division seeks to become nationally recognized among departments of family medicine for engaging in high-quality primary care research that improves community health and helps eliminate disparities in health care.
Cancer Prevention Programs
Research Focus: Cancer Prevention and Control
Cancer prevention and control is a major research focus for the division and aligns with the institution's Cancer Center of Emphasis. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States, and survival is often stage dependent. Early diagnosis and prevention provide the best opportunity for better outcomes.
Community Research Environment
Our community experiences a disproportionately high burden of some cancers, particularly breast and cervical cancer, and has lower screening rates than other populations. The division has a strong environment for community-based research, with institutional and departmental support and access to diverse clinic and community populations.
Research Areas and Collaboration
The department has federally funded investigators and is focused on recruiting new investigators to join this team. Areas of expertise include:
- Behavioral science
- Epidemiology
- Patient-provider communication
- Health promotion
- Health services research
- Community-based participatory research
Funding and Scholarly Activity
Since the research division was established in fall 2010, it has been funded by 20 grants from agencies and organizations including the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
As of April 2014, the division's grant portfolio included more than $10 million in funding, with additional grants pending review. Departmental faculty and residents have a diverse range of interests reflected in their scholarly output.