Hear candid conversations between people conquering cancer — patients, their family and friends, and doctors and researchers working to help us all.
For starters, NHPI patients have some of the lowest rates of inclusion in clinical trials and oncology research. As a result, data about these patients is often scarce, leading to poorer health outcomes and fewer support resources. Additionally, many NHPI communities live in remote areas, which can often limit their access to the latest medical advancements—including for cancer diagnosis and treatment. This reality motivated Dr. Taparra to dedicate his career to advancing cancer research for NHPI patients.
In 2023, Dr. Taparra received the inaugural Dr. Judith and Alan Kaur Endowed Young Investigator Award through Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation. With this support, he launched a research project that uses machine learning to explore the various drivers of NHPI cancer disparities. This vital work also helps categorize NHPI cancer data more effectively.
All too often, the health data gathered about NHPI patients is categorized too broadly, resulting in ethnic and geographic differences among these populations being overlooked. Moreover, numerous NHPI communities live in remote areas, causing many NHPI patients to face delayed screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Having experienced firsthand the impact of these disparities on his own family, Dr. Taparra dedicates his career to addressing the various challenges prevalent in NHPI cancer care.
In this episode of the Your Stories podcast, Dr. Taparra shares his memories of witnessing loved ones endure various types of cancer, and the health disparities and resulting barriers they faced. He talks with host Dr. Don Dizon about the necessity of integrating social determinants of health into cancer research for NHPI communities and his determination to help improve equitable care for every patient.
