BMC Proceedings最新文献

Purpose: Sexual and gender minority people (SGM) experience multiple cancer-related disparities, including higher rates of cancer risk factors, lower rates of cancer screening, higher lifetime risk of cancer, and unmet needs throughout cancer survivorship. Although many national organizations, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Cancer Society (ACS), have emphasized the need for more cancer research among SGM communities, currently no consensus exists about the highest research priorities, promising research models, or mechanisms to support collaboration between geographically dispersed scientific teams.

Methods: To address this gap, we convened a three-day conference to focus on the "Science of Cancer Health Equity for SGM Communities." Held at the New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center Campus in New York City from October 5-7, 2023, this conference brought together researchers, trainees, early-stage investigators, and community members. The conference aimed to: 1) examine the current span of evidence-based research on SGM cancer across the cancer control continuum; 2) establish SGM cancer research priorities; 3) promote the careers and research of trainees and early stage investigators, especially those from minoritized backgrounds; 4) develop a transdisciplinary network of professionals with a focus on mentorship and shared research methods; and 5) disseminate findings from this conference, including priorities for SGM cancer health equity research.

Results: Response to the conference was overwhelmingly positive.

Conclusion: The success of this inaugural conference indicated the need for additional efforts to advance SGM cancer research and expand on scientific priorities.

Background: The world has committed to ending viral hepatitis as a public health threat as part of sustainable development goal 3.3. World Health Organization (WHO) has developed Global Health Sector Strategies (GHSS 2022-2030) to provide guidance to countries to end viral hepatitis by 2030. India instituted the national program for prevention and control of viral hepatitis (National Viral Hepatitis Control Program, NVHCP) in 2018 in alignment with the global perspective and strategic framework. The Chennai Liver Foundation conducted the first Indian Hepatitis Summit 2025 as a collective movement towards a hepatitis-free India.

Methods: The summit was conducted on January 17-18, 2025, at Chennai. Healthcare professionals, policymakers, advocates, researchers, and civil society representatives gathered to share successes, discuss barriers, and address the urgent challenges of viral hepatitis and promote collaborative efforts to combat this silent epidemic in India.

Results: The meeting was attended by 54 program faculty and 275 delegates from government agencies, national and international organizations, and public and private hospitals. The two-day agenda included 14 sessions, with 46 talks and four panel discussions. The summit gathered important lessons from global initiatives, surveyed the current landscape of viral hepatitis in India, shared the best practices from some parts of world including India, identified barriers to elimination initiatives, and discussed potential solutions to overcome these barriers. Discussions also included the developments in viral hepatitis screening, diagnosis, and treatment; the ways to tackle the stigma associated with the illness; and innovative measures to improve public health results. In collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), the Chennai Liver Foundation launched the Hepat App and a Hepatitis Online Course.

Conclusion: The summit served as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment options; and to delineate future directions for viral hepatitis elimination in India.

The 2025 Annual Meeting of National Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Programme Managers (2025 PMM) in the WHO African Region convened stakeholders in Lomé, Togo, under the theme "Innovating for Acceleration: Pathway to NTD Elimination." A key focus was the changing funding environment and the necessity for enhanced integration of NTD services within health systems to guarantee sustainable advancement toward the 2030 elimination goals. The conference was convened in the context of substantial disruptions stemming from the USAID funding pause, which interrupted essential mass drug administration (MDA) programmes and epidemiological monitoring activities across multiple nations. Country experiences highlighted the fragility of external funding dependence and underscored the importance of domestic resource mobilization, decentralized implementation, and programmatic integration. Strategic discussions highlighted opportunities to incorporate NTD services into national health financing mechanisms, and routine health campaigns, alongside leveraging digital tools and partnerships. Participants emphasized the urgency of political commitment, sustained investments, and integrated service delivery models to build resilience and close equity gaps. The meeting further underscored the need for bold, country-led responses and multisectoral collaboration to advance NTD elimination efforts in a rapidly evolving global health financing environment.

The Tri-Service Microbiome Consortium (TSMC) was created to foster and enhance cooperation, collaboration, and communication of microbiome research among Department of Defense (DoD) researchers and their collaborators. The 8th Annual TSMC Symposium was held in Colorado Springs, CO on 25-26 September 2024 and featured oral and poster presentations and discussions centered on microbiome-related topics within four broad thematic areas: 1) Surveillance; 2) Health and Performance; 3) Enablers; and 4) Remediation. Collectively this meeting promoted sharing of methods, experiments, and findings across DoD affiliated microbiome research and promoted future and ongoing collaborations. This report summarizes the proceedings of the 8th Annual TSMC Symposium.

Academics are familiar with the concept of a growth mindset, a framework teachers use to help students embrace challenges, overcome obstacles, and learn from their mistakes. In this context, we argue that the principles of this paradigm are equally applicable in promoting the career advancement of early STEM academics, as well as those in non-STEM fields where successful career progression requires demonstrating contributions to scholarship, teaching, and service, often involving collaborative work. The early years of a faculty career offer numerous opportunities for growth, but these may be missed or seen as obstacles if approached with a fixed mindset. This is especially true for individuals with intersectional identities who may lack role models or feel out of place in an unsupportive academic environment. We argue that a well-planned, purposeful, and balanced approach to workload responsibilities that aligns with institutional culture and priorities can lead to outstanding performance and career advancement, enabling individuals to achieve their aspirations and personal goals.

The Data Innovation, Program Implementation, and Community Action (DIPICA) Observatory for Surgical, Anesthesia, and Obstetric (SAO) Care in India convened in December 2024 in New Delhi. This two-day program brought together experts from global surgery, public health, health policy, and clinical practice to address planned challenges in SAO care, focusing on data-driven approaches, sustainable financing, and workforce development. The discussions emphasized leveraging data to strengthen SAO care systems by creating practical data products for localized planning and community engagement. Participants advocated for dynamic observatories to support data-driven research and policy implementation, making SAO care more accessible and efficient. Sustainable financing emerged as a key focus, with experts discussing innovative approaches that move beyond conventional models. Community-based solutions, decentralized funding, and performance-based models were discussed as strategies to optimize resource allocation. Establishing partnerships involving government, private, and community sectors was highlighted as crucial for achieving financial sustainability, particularly in underserved areas. Workforce development discussions addressed competency-based training and task-sharing initiatives to reduce disparities. The attendees agreed on the need for structured training to enhance surgical skills, especially for general practitioners in rural areas. Regulatory policies on task-sharing and task-shifting were considered essential to maintaining care quality while expanding access. Improving trauma care and emergency response through targeted training and rural workforce retention also remained key priorities. Advocacy efforts focused on integrating SAO care into national health priorities through data-driven communication and public engagement. The observatory aims to sustain progress through collaborative research, advocacy, and policy dialogues to ensure equitable, accessible, and high-quality SAO care across India.