Taken from the Great Plains IDeA-CTR newsletter – July 13, 2026
Through pilot funding from the 2025-26 Great Plains IDeA-CTR Community-Engaged Research Pilot Project, investigator Mariah Jackson, PhD, and an interdisciplinary team developed the Community-Academic Partnership to Improve Health of Cancer Survivors – a collaborative forum where cancer survivors, healthcare providers, community organizations, and researchers work together to advance survivorship research and support. Over the past year, partners have come together through monthly discussions to identify priorities, address unmet needs, and explore practical ways to improve the health and well-being of cancer survivors.
A central theme that emerged from these conversations was the need for accessible, community-centered resources that translate research findings into everyday tools survivors and caregivers can use. Participants emphasized the importance of programs that not only provide information but also empower individuals to make healthy lifestyle changes during and after cancer treatment.
These discussions directly informed the development of new initiatives, including free evidence-based cooking classes for cancer survivors and caregivers at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge. Designed to make nutrition research accessible and actionable, the classes provide participants with practical skills, recipes, and strategies to support healthy eating throughout the survivorship journey. This infographic highlights the project and offers ways to connect.
The partnership’s work has also led to new research opportunities. Building on insights gained from community engagement efforts, the team secured funding for the RESILIENCE Study (Researching the Effects of Survivorship, Inflammation, and Neuro-Cognitive Enhancement through Cancer and Eating). This innovative study will examine how a fiber- rich diet may influence health outcomes among colorectal cancer survivors while expanding the community-based nutrition programming already underway.
By integrating scientific research with community priorities, the RESILIENCE Study reflects the partnership’s commitment to ensuring that research remains relevant, accessible, and responsive to survivor needs. The study will also leverage the cooking classes at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge to further connect evidence-based nutrition education with real-world application.
As the Community-Academic Partnership continues to grow, the team is focused on expanding programming to rural communities, completing the RESILIENCE Study, and sharing findings with survivors, caregivers, healthcare providers, and community partners. Through ongoing collaboration and engagement, the project exemplifies how community voices can help shape impactful research and create sustainable solutions that improve cancer survivorship outcomes.
Academic Partners:
- UNMC College of Allied Health Professions
- Mariah Jackson, PhD, RDN
- Yvonne Golightly, PhD, PT
- Stacy Smallfield, DrOT, FAOTA
- UNMC College of Medicine
- Laura Tenner, MD
- Amber Brown Keebler, MD
- Tanya Wildes, MD
- UNMC College of Nursing
- Robin Lally, PhD, RN