Introduction: The Hispanic Community Network to Reduce Cancer Disparities, located in the Lower Yakima Valley of easternWashington state, is one of 25 national Community Network Programs (CNP) funded by the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. Initiating in 2005, the Hispanic Community Network's objective is to help reduce cancer disparities through community-based research, education and training in underserved areas. The Hispanic Community Network collaborates with community partners to reduce cancer health disparities experienced by Hispanics in this rural region ofWashington State. In an effort to create an infrastructure within the community, the Hispanic Community Network CNP has allocated small grants to community groups and organizations, enabling them to initiate their own research and programs related to cancer prevention and awareness.

Methods: A Community Advisory Board (CAB) consisting of 20 members from local organizations and CNP researchers developed an annual request for applications (RFA) allowing local groups and organization to apply for small grants in the amounts of $2500–3500. The application requested a statement of proposed work, contribution of proposal to the aims of the CNP, qualifications of the proposer, evaluation strategy for the program, and a budget. Annually, a CAB subcommittee, along with the CNP researchers project staff met to review the proposals that were submitted. Each application was reviewed for the following criteria: Did the proposed plan have scientific merit? Could the organization reasonably do the work? What kind of contribution would the program make to the CNP? How adequate was the evaluation plan? Was the budget suitable and reasonable? Proposals were funded as submitted or with contingencies.

Results: Three RFA cycles have occurred (2006, 2007, and 2008). A total of 10 grants were awarded ranging from $1500 to $3500 for one year of work. Funded grants included fostering awareness of prostate cancer through a Spanish language radio station; motivating severely underserved women to receive pap testing; promoting awareness of cervical cancer screening for middle school girls via a one day curriculum; sponsoring a cancer survivor's support group in Spanish; advocating for changes in dietary behaviors; and others. A evaluation results indicate varying degrees of success for each individual proposal. A number of these projects will be presented in further detail.

Conclusion/Discussion: In order to have a substantial and permanent impact within communities, researchers should desire to involve community members and community-based organizations in all aspects of their research. The small grant RFA's administered through the Hispanic Community Network demonstrates that small amounts of money can have a substantial impact. Small grants offer training for community members in cancer prevention research and allows them to serve an active role in addressing community health concerns as well as providing the tools necessary to conduct and understand research.

Second AACR International Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities— Feb 3–6, 2009; Carefree, AZ