UWCCC REACH Shared Resource

Real-World Evidence to Advance Community Health

• The mission of the UWCCC’s REACH Shared Resource (SR) is to reduce the burden of cancer by facilitating high-impact population health monitoring and translational research. In support of this mission, REACH provides access to timely longitudinal data and biospecimens from a representative statewide sample of UWCCC catchment area residents. REACH provides expertise in population health sciences, translational and community-engaged research to UWCCC members.
• UWCCC REACH Shared Resource Aims
  • Accelerate Statewide Cancer Prevention and Control Research using Existing Data. REACH provides technical assistance to UWCCC members interested in using REACH data to track trends in the cancer burden and the prevalence of known and emerging cancer risk factors in the population.
  • Facilitate the Development of New Population Based Cancer Studies Utilizing REACH Expertise and Infrastructure. REACH provides investigators with consultation, development, and design services for new population health research. REACH staff have expertise in new study design, questionnaire development, use of REDCap for data collection, community biospecimens collection, and obtaining human subjects training and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, among other services.
  • Foster Use of REACH Biospecimen for Novel Cancer Research. A unique element of REACH is its extensive biorepository of biological samples from communities across the entire UWCCC catchment area (primarily collected by the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin, SHOW). The stored biospecimens, combined with extensive data on social determinants of health, can accelerate new cancer biomarker development and translational research (bench or clinic to community). Samples are available to assess exposure to cancer causing agents and to identify interim, blood, DNA, urine, or stool-based biomarkers of cancer risk. Investigators may also use biospecimens for new biomarker discovery, comparing biomarker levels from disease-free persons (controls) to cancer patients (cases). UWCCC members receive a discounted rate for biological samples and analytic support from REACH and for linking biological samples with survey data.