About VA-ACCERT Center
The VA-ACCERT Center is dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable cancer prevention strategies to improve health outcomes for individuals living in income-based housing. By fostering community partnerships and engaging in shared leadership with residents, the initiative aims to address social drivers of health and reduce the barriers to effective cancer prevention care.
As mounting evidence highlights the role of neighborhoods and physical environment in health and well-being, the need to address structural and social drivers of health becomes increasingly urgent. To do so effectively and sustainably, authentic community engagement is critical.
The VA-ACCERT Center collaborates with housing communities across Virginia to tailor evidence-based cancer prevention strategies and co-create sustainable solutions to prevent cancer and improve well-being for residents of income-based housing.
VA-ACCERT hosted our second collaborative Closing the Gap: Cancer Risk Reduction Summit on March 21, 2026, at EVMS Waitzer Hall (735 Fairfax Ave, Norfolk, VA 23507) on the ODU medical campus in Norfolk, Virginia. The Summit brought together researchers, clinicians, and community members to identify community-driven cancer risk reduction priorities for individuals living in income-based housing.
This full-day event included presentations from academics and clinicians studying cancer risk reduction and rich discussion with the HCCAB members and other local community partners. Ideas generated at the Summit will directly shape VA-ACCERT’s upcoming Community Responsive Research Project (CRRP 3) funding opportunity.
VA-ACCERT released a Notice of Funding Opportunity specifically for ODU EVMS investigators to support one community-engaged cancer prevention project in income-based housing communities across Virginia, with up to $145,000 in funding over two and a half years. The CRRPs are designed to turn community-identified priorities from the Summit into actionable research projects by pairing academic researchers with community partners. Summit attendance is mandatory for submitting a Letter of Intent due May 22, 2026.