3rd Annual CaRE2 Connects with Our Community | The Power of Advocacy in Biospecimen Donation

We all can help to improve health by sharing some of ourselves with others, literally. Advances in medical science have shown how donating major body organs like one’s kidney or lung, can save the lives of others. And, more of us can donate body tissue or fluids, which are called biospecimens in the medical and research community, to help scientists study diseases and develop treatments. Biospecimen donation typically involves giving small amounts of your body tissue or fluids, like blood or spit, that can be collected practically anywhere. Unfortunately, Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino populations are often less likely to have donated specimens for research studies compared to other groups. This is a big problem because having these samples helps researchers see how well treatments work for different people.

What we continue to learn is that a major reason for not being involved in biospecimen donation is a lack of awareness about donating biospecimens and tissue, which creates a barrier to fair and inclusive cancer research. Another reason for this gap is misinformation and myths about donating. For example, some people think their donated tissue will be used in experiments without their approval. In reality, there are strict ethical rules and consent processes that ensure donors are fully informed and their wishes are respected. And, another key reason is that community members continue to share that they have not heard about the importance of donating, they don’t know what’s really involved with donating, or have never been invited.

To address these issues, we need to focus on education and advocacy. That’s why the CaRE2 Health Equity Center is hosting its 3rd Annual CaRE2 Connects with Our Community virtual event on Wednesday, January 22nd, from 6–8 PM EST/3–5 PM PST . This year’s theme, The Power of Advocacy in Biospecimen Donation, highlights how community involvement can help create fairer cancer research for everyone. We will share what’s typically involved with donating, and hear from a cancer survivor and advocate along with a scientist on biospecimen donation and how this affects all of us.  This free training session is offered online and anyone wanting to learn more can join. You have the power to save lives.

Register here: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5jYHFb33SR76MtgOR

Scan the QR code to register!

Join our Community Contact Registry designed to promote research participation of all community members in Florida and California at: https://care2healthequitycenter.org/the-care2-contact-registry/

Visit the CaRE2 Center website for more information: https://care2healthequitycenter.org/

 

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