Education
UOG students present cancer research at prestigious conference
By
University of Guam October 10, 2024
Jonas D. Macapinlac, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
University of Guam October 10, 2024
University of Guam chemistry and biology sophomore Reina Evangelista showcased her cancer research project on “Adherence to Mammography Screening Guidelines by Family History of Breast Cancer in Guam” at the 17th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held in Los Angeles, California, September 21-24, 2024. (University of Guam)
University of Guam students Reina Evangelista and Gian Paras recently showcased their cancer research projects at the 17th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held in Los Angeles, California, September 21-24, 2024.
Evangelista, a sophomore chemistry-biology dual major, and Paras, a sophomore civil engineering major, are research education trainees at the UOG/University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE).
University of Guam civil engineering sophomore Gian Paras showcased his cancer research project on “Ethnic Variations in Breast Cancer Risk Factors Distribution in Guam” at the 17th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held in Los Angeles, California, September 21-24, 2024. (University of Guam)
Evangelista presented her research on “Adherence to Mammography Screening Guidelines by Family History of Breast Cancer in Guam” and Paras presented his research on “Ethnic Variations in Breast Cancer Risk Factors Distribution in Guam.” Their peer-reviewed abstracts were published at the conference.
Dr. Rachael Leon Guerrero, PIPCHE co-principal investigator, called their participation “a significant achievement for UOG and a testament to the university’s commitment to impactful cancer research.”
The research is part of the Hawai’i and Pacific Island Mammography Registry (HIPIMR), a collaboration between the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center, UOG Cancer Research Center, and breast imaging facilities in both regions. In Guam, FHP Health Center is the sole participating facility.
HIPIMR aims to improve early cancer detection for diverse ethnic groups in Hawai’i and Guam. Project leaders Dr. Grazyna Badowski (UOG) and Dr. John Shepherd (UHCC) stated, “Our long-term goal is to develop accurate and validated breast cancer risk biomarkers that can contribute to reducing advanced breast cancer cases, ultimately lowering breast cancer mortality.”
Evangelista and Paras expressed gratitude for the support they received from project partners and to the women who participated in the study.