From silence to science: Survivor advocacy and community partnership to advance equity in cancer research

This poster explores how survivor-led, community-informedadvocacy can strengthen equity and inclusion in cancer research by addressingcultural stigma, silence, and mistrust that limit engagement amongunderrepresented populations. Drawing on lived experience as a blood cancersurvivor and patient partner, this work highlights how meaningful collaborationbetween patients, researchers, clinicians, and community networks can improveresearch relevance, participation, and knowledge translation. Focusing on SouthAsian communities, the poster examines how culturally responsive dialogue andpatient-led engagement can surface barriers to early diagnosis, clinical trialparticipation, and survivorship care that are often overlooked in traditionalresearch settings. It emphasizes the value of patient partners in translatinglived experience into actionable insights that inform research design,recruitment strategies, and communication approaches. By bridging communityadvocacy and cancer research, this work demonstrates how inclusivescientist-survivor partnerships can build trust, enhance diversity in researchparticipation, and support more equitable cancer outcomes across the carecontinuum.