The University of Pennsylvania Prevention Research Center (UPenn PRC) has received a $6.5 million, five-year grant from the CDC to conduct community-based public health research, with a focus on cancer prevention in Philadelphia communities.

Led by Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH, Oluwadamilola “Lola” Fayanju, MD, MA, MPHS, and Meghan Lane-Fall, MD, MSHP, the center will work on projects aimed at addressing public health challenges, particularly cancer. The CDC's Prevention Research Centers (PRC) program funds academic centers like UPenn PRC to carry out research addressing the health needs of communities across the U.S., with UPenn PRC among 20 centers funded for the 2024–2029 cycle.

The centerpiece of UPenn PRC’s work is its core research project, a five-year initiative in partnership with Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) at Thomas Jefferson University. This project aims to improve shared decision-making between clinicians and older adults diagnosed with early-stage breast, rectal, or lung cancer through the BEACON study (Best Case/Worst Case Equity-centered Adaptation to Communicate with Older Oncology Patients). The study will assess the effectiveness of a shared decision-making tool for patients navigating treatment options based on their personal values and health priorities. Researchers hope this project will address healthcare disparities by enrolling over 500 adults aged 65 and older, improving cancer care outcomes and enhancing the patient-care team dialogue.

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UPenn PRC was first established in 2014 with CDC funding and has been a leader in research on health disparities, cancer prevention, cognitive health, and weight management. UPenn PRC also collaborates with the national Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN), applying evidence-based approaches to reduce cancer risk for underserved adults. 

According to Glanz, UPenn PRC’s leadership team and collaborators represent a wide spectrum of expertise, engaging multiple disciplines to foster community wellness.