In 1998, the U.S. Surgeon General released a landmark report calling for tobacco control interventions for Hispanic and Latino and other populations. Has this goal been met? To find out, Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of UT Health San Antonio analyzed public health efforts since 1998 and identified a mix of replicable successes and remaining challenges in tobacco control, according to her recent article in JNCI Monographs. "Although progress has been made in the years since the report's release, [Latino and other] tobacco users continue to have limited access to cessation medication and support services," Ramirez wrote. "Cultural barriers and tobacco industry marketing have also complicated cessation efforts." "Despite these challenges, some outreach and cessation efforts have shown ...
In South Texas, risk is high for liver cancer, cervical cancer, and pediatric leukemia. To pave way for responsive research, the Creando Conexiones: Creating a Patient Centered Cancer Health Research Agenda in South Texas (Creando Conexiones) project aimed to outline patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (PC-CER) priorities and topics identified by South Texas cancer survivors, caregivers, and stakeholders affected by these cancers. The result is the Creando Conexiones: Cancer-Related Health Outcomes Research Agenda. Let's explore the agenda.
Developing the Creando Conexiones Research Agenda
Dr. Rebecca Jones of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio launched the Creando Conexiones program with a $250,000 from the ...
While childhood obesity remains a problem in the US, much progress has been made to address the epidemic over the past 20 years. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) recently published its 2025 State of Childhood Obesity Report to reflect on the national movement to address childhood obesity and its many accomplishments and lessons learned over time. “Our work together has always been grounded in a simple belief: that every child should be able to grow up healthy, no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money their family has,” said Jamie Bussel, RWJF senior officer. Let’s dive deeper into this report and how it can shape efforts to address childhood obesity.
1. Major Commitments Require Vision, Staying Power
The RWJF report describes the skyrocketing ...
Cancer continues to be a leading cause of death for Latinos and all people in the US. But thanks to modern medicine, which includes cancer screenings, prevention techniques, and treatments, the number of cancer survivors is on the rise. Researchers are constantly working on new ways to mitigate and manage cancer and symptoms. However, some of these can come from unlikely places. For instance, researchers have found a link between the COVID-19 vaccine and the cancer immune system, according to a new publication in the journal Nature. Let’s go over the findings and what they mean for cancer patients.
Research Findings on COVID-19 Vaccine and Cancer
The discovery was made when researchers were developing mRNA vaccines for brain tumor patients back in ...
Families are often busy with work, school, extra-curricular activities, and everyday life. With this in mind, it’s important for families to come together and spend time with one another. One way many families do this is after a long day of work and school is gathering at the dinner table and enjoying a meal together. In fact, the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families (NRCHCF) highlights research that finds that half of all Hispanic children eat at least one meal a day with their family, which has many health, emotional, and academic benefits. Additionally, 63% of preschool-aged children (birth to age 5) are the most likely to have daily family meals, while teenagers are the least likely. Let’s dig deeper into this research and why it’s important ...
Cancer death rates have dropped 34% over the past three decades, saving the lives of more than 4.5 million people. And it’s all thanks to cancer research. Research is the foundation of critical public health efforts, including prevention, screenings, and advancements in cancer treatment, according to the latest progress report on cancer from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Every year the AACR puts out its progress report to discuss the latest achievements in research while keeping a watchful eye on the future, including the need for ongoing scientific research to one day eradicate cancer. Here are 7 key takeaways from the report and how it will impact the future of cancer research.
1. The Number of Survivors is Projected to Rise
Between ...
Despite cancer deaths declining, cancer continues to be a top cause of death among Latinos and all people in the US. One of the most prevalent forms of cancer is breast cancer. Every year, 240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many of these women are Latina. What’s more, breast cancer is the top cause of death among Latinas. That’s one of the reasons that a researcher at Liberty University is looking for Latina breast cancer survivors to participate in a research study. Let’s explore the research study and discover ways to contribute to research to ensure better breast cancer outcomes for Latinas and all women.
Research Study on Breast Cancer
The study aims ...
In the last 15 years, U.S. mortality rates have leveled off or worsened, according to a new report from the National Institutes of Health. One of the lesser-known reasons for this trend is educational level. “Notably, research has found that mortality is [better] among people with a higher level of education,” according to NIH. Let’s dig deeper into this research and what it means for our communities.
What Research Found on Educational Levels
The NIH cites a recent study, published in JAMA Health Forum and led by Boston University School of Public Health. The study examined U.S. mortality rates by educational attainment before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics and the U.S. Census ...
In the United States, cancer is a significant public health challenge. For example, among Latinos, who are 19.5% of the population, rates are higher and prognoses are poorer than other groups. The Latino cancer burden is driven by complex interactions in 13 key areas, according to a new publication from the Task Force: Latino Researchers Against Cancer in the journal Frontiers in Public Health. The task force, led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of UT Health San Antonio and comprised of specialists in oncology, public health, and behavioral sciences, spent a year meeting together to unpack the influences contributing to cancer, from genetics to societal practices. "Findings highlight environmental hazards, genetic susceptibilities, stigmas, and linguistic barriers as significant ...
