Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings

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Cancer is a threat to the health of Latinos and all people.

That’s why Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, partnered with the Mays Cancer Center to create the Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations (ACRLP) biennial conference series.

Read past conference proceedings from 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024.

On Feb. 18-20, 2026, the newest ACRLP conference welcomed over 350 prominent researchers, physicians, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and students from across the globe to address cancer among Latinos and all people in San Antonio, Texas.

Conference sponsors included: Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead, Revolution Medicine, Natera, AstraZeneca (platinum); Blood Cancer United, Menarini Stemline, Eli Lilly (gold); National Hispanic Health Foundation, American Cancer Society, STEAM Network (silver); University of New Mexico, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (amigos).

Scientific planning committee members included: Chair, Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH, UT Health San Antonio; Co-chair, Edward J. Trapido, ScD, FACE, Louisiana State University; Co-chair, Marcela Mazo Canola, MD, UT Health San Antonio; Barbara Segarra-Vázquez, DHSc, MT, University of Puerto Rico; Alejandro Recio Boiles, MD, FACP, University of Arizona; Maria Constanza Camargo, PhD, National Cancer Institute; Janeth Sanchez, PhD, National Cancer Institute; Gerardo Colon-Otero, MD, Mayo Clinic, Florida; Katherine Y. Tossas, PhD, MS, Virginia Commonwealth University; Mariana C. Stern, PhD, University of Southern California; Martin Mendoza, PhD; Matthew P. Banegas, PhD, MPH, University of California, San Diego; Patricia I. Moreno, PhD, University of Miami; Yamilé Molina, PhD, University of Illinois; Laura Fejerman, MSc, PHD, UC Davis; Mary Jimenez, Community Advisory Board, Mays Cancer Center; and Sandi Stanford, Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation.

The following “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings” summarizes presentations and panels. Discussion covered new research advances on clinical best practices, effective community interventions, the non-medical drivers of health, and professional training to reduce cancer in Latinos and all people.

View a PDF of the full proceedings.

2026 ACRLP Conference Proceedings

Introduction

Moving Forward and Staying the Course

Robert A Winn, MD, Formerly of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Currently of Fox Chase Cancer Center

Pediatric Cancers

Adam De Smith, PhD, University of Southern California

Jenny Ruiz, MD, MSCE, University of Pittsburgh

Aging and Cancer

Enrique Soto Perez de Celis, MD, PhD, University of Colorado Cancer Center

Melody K. Schiaffino, PhD, University of California, San Diego

Rising Tide of Infection-Related Cancers

Ana Patricia Jones, PhD, MPH, University of Puerto Rico

Luis Carvajal-Carmona, PhD, University of California, Davis

Patricia D. Jones, MD, University of Miami

Unmasking the Rise of Early-Onset Cancer

Marcela Mazo Canola, MD, UT Health San Antonio

Sukeshi Patel Arora, MD, UT Health San Antonio

Narjust Florez, MD, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center

Cancer Survivorship

Jean Edward, PhD, RN, CHPE, University of Kentucky

Betina R. Yanez, PhD, Northwestern University

Frank Penedo, PhD, University of Miami

Technology & Communication

Yonaira Rivera, PhD, Rutgers

Arturo Loaiza-Bonilla, MD, MSEd, Massive Bio

Carmina G. Valle, PhD, MPH, UNC Gillings School of Public Health

Early-Career Investigator Session

Gustavo J. Almeida, PT, PhD, UT Health San Antonio

Yelba M. Castellon-Lopez, MD, MSHPM, Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University

Maira A. Castaneda-Avila, MS, PhD, UMass Chan Medical School

Sara Flores, PhD, National Cancer Institute

Cirila Estela Vazquez Guzman, PhD, MCR, Oregon Health & Science University

Bridging International and National Research

Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center

The Genetic Gap: Why Biomarkers Matter

Jose Trevino, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University

Luis Raez, MD, Memorial Cancer Institute

Elad Ziv, MD, UCSF Hellen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Emerging Voices, Evolving Science

Eliseo J. Perez-Stable, MD, Professor Emeritus, University California, San Francisco

Alejandro Recio Boiles, MD, FACP, University of Arizona

Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE, FACP, University of Pennsylvania

Beyond the Barriers: From Law to Life

Xuesong Han, PhD, American Cancer Society

Ramon Cancino, MD, MBA, FAAFP, UT Health San Antonio

Elena Rios, MD, National Hispanic Health Foundation

Our Air, Our Water, Our Health: Environmental Impact on Cancer Risk

Leticia Nogueira, PhD, MPH, American Cancer Society

Roxana Chicas, PhD, RN, FAAN, Emory University

Martin De La Rosa, San Antonio Firefighter Department

Stephen Torres, San Antonio Fire Department

Research and Patient Leadership

Arnoldo Rodriguez, Cancer Survivor

Karen Estrada, Cancer Survivor

International Latin American Researchers

Carolina Wiesner, MD, Instituto Nacional de Cancerolgia de Colombia

Fireside Chat featuring Cancer Center Directors

Ruben Mesa, MD, Atrium University

Carlos Arteaga, MD, UT Southwestern

Robert A Winn, MD, Formerly of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Currently of Fox Chase Cancer Center

Lei Zheng, MD, Mays Cancer Center

Think Tank: Cancer Researchers Against Cancer

Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH, MPH, UT Health San Antonio

New Developments in Precision Medicine

Angelica Acevedo, Bristol Myers Squibb

Meg McKenzie, Genentech

Sabrina Meyers, Gilead

Jesse Garcia, Rev Med

Angel Rodriguez, MD, Natera

Paris Johnson, AstraZeneca

Conclusion

Research Abstracts

Cite the 2026 ACRLP Conference Proceedings

Ramirez AG, Trapido EJ, Mazo Canola M, editors. Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings. 2026 Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations (ACRLP), San Antonio, TX. Published online at https://salud-america.org/advancing-cancer-research-for-latinos-and-all-populations-2026-conference-proceedings.

About the Authors of the 2026 ACRLP Conference Proceedings

• Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH, Professor, Institute for Health Promotion Research, Department of Population Health Sciences, UT Health San Antonio
• Edward J. Trapido, ScD, FACE, Louisiana State University
• Marcela Mazo Canola, MD, UT Health San Antonio
• Sarah C. Nicholson, PhD, Lead Medical Writer, SCN Medical Communications
• David Jones, Associate Medical Writer, SCN Medical Communications

Additional Information

The 2026 Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations (ACRLP) conference in San Antonio, Texas, was also the setting for the second in-person meeting of the Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program. Read more about the training event, watch a video of the training event, or listen to a podcast featuring several of the cancer survivors and advocates.

The 2028 Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations (ACRLP) conference is set for Feb. 23-25, 2028, in San Antonio, Texas. Read more here.

This report is copyright 2026 Salud America! and UT Health San Antonio.