Community Outreach and Engagement
Through partnerships across West Virginia, we work to understand community needs and address the challenges that contribute to cancer disparities.
The WVU Cancer Institute’s Cancer Outreach and Engagement (COE) team, in partnership with our Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, collaborates with over 700 community-based partners to identify needs that help reduce the burden of cancer in West Virginia.
This community-engaged approach is crucial to our understanding of the health challenges faced by those we serve, particularly those who suffer disproportionately from cancer. Our COE work includes the placement of regional community health extenders across the state and builds upon the 35-year history of outreach from our Department of Cancer Prevention and Control.
WVU Cancer Institute Catchment Area
A fundamental element of the cancer center’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) comprehensive designation is Community Outreach and Engagement. Our research is driven by how cancer affects those living in our catchment area, which includes the entire state of West Virginia, with a focus on populations who are at increased risk of developing or dying from cancer. Catchment area is a term used by the NCI to indicate the defined geographic area in which the cancer center concentrates its research, education, and outreach efforts.
Cancer InFocus
Cancer InFocus is a free, data gathering and information resource designed to visualize public health data to help map cancer burden and community health across West Virginia. This valuable resource informs COE programming and guides research at the WVU Cancer Institute.
Community Advisory Board
Our Community Advisory Board aligns the Institute’s initiatives with the needs and perspectives of our communities.
Established in early 2025, The Community Advisory Board (CAB) facilitates communication between community members, state and community organizations, and WVU Cancer Institute leadership.
The CAB informs the WVU Cancer Institute’s strategic plan, research priorities, outreach efforts, educational programs, community engagement, and shared understanding of community priorities. Board members from across West Virginia represent the voices of our communities, engage in bi-directional communication, and partner in our shared mission to reduce the state’s cancer burden.
The 16-member CAB represents our catchment area population and includes patients, community members, cancer survivors, faith-based leaders, local government representatives, nonprofit organization members, and community-based medical providers and clinicians. Members serve to inform cancer research priorities and actively participate in program development and research dissemination. The board is comprised of representatives from diverse geographic areas, backgrounds, and cancer experiences across West Virginia.