A Community-based Translational Research Framework to Address Prostate Cancer Disparities
Dr. Brian Rivers is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine and Director of the Cancer Health Equity Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine ( MSM). Dr. Rivers is MPI of the NCI-funded U54 Cancer Research Partnership between MSM, Tuskegee University, and UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Rivers is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in cancer disparities research and currently serves as a member of the NIH National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NACMHD). More recently, Dr. Rivers was elected to serve on the Minorities in Cancer Research Council of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Dr. Rivers is a behavioral scientist with a broad background in implementation science and public health, with specific training and expertise in health behavior research methodologies for addressing health disparities, such as the lay health model and Community-based Participatory Research framework. Dr. Rivers' specific program of research is focused on addressing prostate cancer disparities among African-Americans and exploring the role of novel communication and placed-based interventions, such as mobile health technology. Dr. Rivers has developed several mobile health applications (apps) to assist with the delivery of salient and tailored cancer information to African- Americans through psycho-educational interventions.
Currently, Dr. Rivers has and is leading several large randomized controlled trials, funded by PCORI and NIH NIMHD R01, to evaluate and characterize app usage and acceptability for education and care coordination among African-American men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Dr. Rivers is an active member in the AACR community and regularly serves on the faculty for the Scientist-Survivor program.