Summit poster session highlights technology, policy, interventions in cancer control

The Nevada Cancer Control Summit, on Sept. 18 in Reno, brings together health care professionals, researchers, public health leaders, community organizations and advocates to share ideas and strengthen cancer prevention and control across the state. This year, attendees will also have an opportunity to see what Nevada's students and emerging researchers are contributing to that work.

Following a full day of Summit sessions, attendees are invited to a networking reception and poster session sponsored by Gilead. The reception offers a chance to connect with colleagues, continue conversations sparked throughout the day and explore research addressing cancer control challenges in Nevada and beyond.

The poster session will feature 11 projects from students and researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno, UNR School of Medicine, Touro University Nevada School of Osteopathic Medicine and Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV.

From technology to access: A broad look at cancer control

The research on display reflects the wide range of disciplines involved in cancer control. Projects explore emerging technologies for breast cancer detection and risk prediction, geographic barriers to cancer care, strategies to improve screening in rural and underserved communities, skin cancer prevention and public health policy.

Several projects explore how technology could contribute to breast cancer detection and assessment. Researchers from UNR's Department of Computer Science and Engineering will present work examining abnormality identification in breast mammograms, the use of stable diffusion in comparing mammograms over time and a model designed to predict breast cancer risk one to five years into the future.

Other researchers are examining the barriers that can determine whether people receive timely cancer prevention, screening and care.

A project from the UNR School of Public Health examines geographic barriers to timely cancer care and survival, while Touro University Nevada researchers will present evidence-based interventions to improve cancer screening in rural and underserved populations and consider their implications for Nevada. Another project from the UNR School of Public Health focuses specifically on expanding access to skin cancer screening.

Exploring prevention through education and policy

Skin cancer prevention is another major theme of this year's poster session.

Research from the UNR School of Medicine examines the role of ethnic identity in adolescents' perceptions of skin cancer as well as the gap between what adolescents learn about skin cancer prevention and whether they put that knowledge into practice.

Another project evaluates a sun safety training program for youth lifeguards, bringing together researchers affiliated with the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, UNR School of Medicine and Nevada Cancer Coalition.

Students are also exploring how policy can support cancer prevention. One project examines a potential policy approach to sun safety and environmental protection at Lake Tahoe. Another analyzes vaccine exemption policy and offers an evidence-based recommendation for Nevada.

Together, the posters demonstrate that cancer control extends well beyond the clinic. Prevention, early detection and access to care can be shaped by technology, geography, education, individual behavior and public policy.

Meet the researchers and continue the conversation

Poster sessions offer something different from a traditional presentation. Attendees can move among projects, talk directly with researchers, ask questions and explore how emerging research might connect with their own work.

For students and emerging researchers, it is also an opportunity to share their work with people involved in cancer prevention and control throughout Nevada. For Summit attendees, it is a chance to discover new ideas and make connections that could lead to future collaboration.

The networking reception and poster session will provide a relaxed close to an energizing day of learning, discussion and collaboration at the Nevada Cancer Control Summit.

Posters featured at the Summit

A Domain Adaptation Framework for Abnormality Identification in Breast Mammograms
Aminul Huq, Ankita Shukla and George Bebis, Ph.D.
UNR Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Temporal Mammography Registration Using Stable Diffusion
Parvaneh Aliniya and George Bebis, Ph.D.
UNR Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Vision Laboratory

Geographic Barriers to Timely Cancer Care and Survival
Dede Aryeh, Beatrice Gyampo and Sarah Friedman, Ph.D.
UNR School of Public Health

An Interpretable Longitudinal Model for 1-5-Year Breast Cancer Risk Prediction From Mammograms
Youngsook Choi, Parvaneh Aliniya and George Bebis, Ph.D.
UNR Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Evidence-Based Interventions to Improve Cancer Screening in Rural and Underserved Populations: Implications for Nevada
Chloe Heras, Julia Reitkopp and Maximilian Ridenour
Touro University Nevada School of Osteopathic Medicine

Assessing the Role of Ethnic Identity in Adolescents' Skin Cancer Perception
Nayana Singh and Randi Owens
UNR School of Medicine

Adolescent Knowledge-Action Gap: Assessing the Efficacy of School-Based Skin Cancer Education on Preventive Behaviors
Nayana Singh, Randi Owens, Vera Vaz and Sruthi Srinivas
UNR School of Medicine

Vaccine Exemption Policy Analysis: An Evidence-Based Recommendation to the State of Nevada
Richmond Owusu Sekyere
UNR School of Public Health

Protecting Skin and the Lake: A Policy Solution for Sun Safety and Lake Tahoe
Ishika Bhakta
UNR School of Public Health

Expanding Access to Skin Cancer Screening
Meghan Emerson Trowbridge
UNR School of Public Health

Evaluation of a Sun Safety Training Program for Youth Lifeguards
Dipin Kapila, Kara Orevillo, Randi Owens and Lily Helzer, MPH
Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Nevada Cancer Coalition

Join us at the Nevada Cancer Control Summit to learn from experts working across the cancer continuum, meet colleagues from around the state and see how Nevada's students and researchers are contributing to the future of cancer control. Registration is $95 and includes continuing education credit, light breakfast, lunch and networking reception.