The Central America Four region (CA-4) is comprised of Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador represents the core LMIC region in the western hemisphere (population 45 million), and is linked to a large U.S. immigrant population. Faculty from UAB work across CA-4 and Panama. Research, education, and clinical initiatives have been established in the region related to cancer epidemiology and prevention, cancer control, and broader global health projects.
The infection-associated cancers dominate the region, including gastric, cervical, and hepatocellular. The core research focus is gastric cancer with programs related to host-microbe genetics, nutrition, and environmental factors. The Western Honduras Gastric Cancer Initiative serves as a platform of collaborations in Central America focused on cancer prevention and control. These efforts are being expanded to include cervical and hepatocellular cancers. UAB is a key partner in the cervical cancer prevention and control service initiative in partnership with the Rotary Club of Birmingham and the Rotary Club of Guatemala-Sur toward the development, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of an HPV vaccination program.
Leading UAB Faculty for Central America Initiatives
Dalton Norwood, M.D.
Isabel Scarinci-Searles, Ph.D.
Tatiana Torres, Ph.D.
Partners
ASAPRECAN, El Salvador (Lisseth Ruiz de Campo, M.D.)
Institute of Nutrition of Central American and Panama (Guatemala; Manuel Ramirez, M.D.)
Ministerio de Salud, El Salvador
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Alfredo Riquelme, M.D.)
Secretaria de Salud, Honduras (Ricardo Dominguez, M.D.)
Universidad de Puerto Rico (Marcia Cruz-Correa, M.D., Ph.D.)
Universidad del Valle (Colombia; Luis Eduardo Bravo, M.D.)
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (Javier Pastora, M.D.)