Melton, J. Joseph

Abstract Background: Black men carry a disproportionate prostate cancer (CaP) burden and often experience significant psychosocial distress at the point of prostate cancer diagnosis (PPCD). Many report emotional shock, uncertainty, and limited access to culturally competent guidance, which can negatively affect treatment decisions and long-term survivorship. To address these needs, we developed the PPCD Virtual Reality Assistant (ViRA), an immersive, AI-enabled intervention co-designed with Black CaP survivors. ViRA delivers tailored psycho-oncology support, emotional guidance, and navigation of social determinants of health (SDOH) within virtual reality environments. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of the PPCD ViRA (NCT06535802). Methods: ViRA was developed through a structured, seven-step co-design process with survivors, integrating mobile immersive technologies, SDOH navigation, and culturally grounded psycho-oncology content. Personalization was enabled through AI-driven predictive analytics and a recommendation engine. Alpha testing assessed initial usability and acceptability among 10 participants (seven team members and three Black CaP survivors). Beta testing with 24 Black men in Florida examined feasibility and preliminary efficacy. Results: A demonstration of ViRA is available (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mI-HS5R6sk). Alpha testing indicated strong usability, positive emotional engagement, and clear promise for enhancing support at the PPCD. In Beta testing, participants varied in age; most were married (58.3%), held a bachelor’s degree (45.8%), were retired (45.8%), and had a family history of cancer (83.3%). ViRA use was associated with increased engagement and reduced distress across participants. Overall, 74% rated ViRA as “excellent,” while the remainder rated it as “good” or “very good.” More than 90% reported being “very satisfied,” with the rest indicating satisfaction. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate high feasibility, acceptability, and cultural relevance of the PPCD ViRA for supporting Black men at diagnosis. Lessons learned highlight the need for culturally embedded design, emotional timing, community co-creation, flexible delivery formats, and strong community partnerships to advance digital health equity. The refinement and larger-scale validation to establish clinical utility and readiness for implementation is ongoing (NCT07126548). Citation Format: Folakemi T. Odedina, Che Ngufor, Christopher Williams, Mary Ellen Young, Floyd Willis, Adam M. Kase, Arnold Merriweather, Emelina Asto-Flores, Dee M. Glaser-Boivin, Jada Melton, Monica L. Albertie, Michelle Fudge, Quincy Wimberly, Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity (iCCaRE) Consortium, Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC). Novel application of the iCCaRE consortium virtual reality assistant (ViRA) to support Black men at the point of prostate cancer diagnosis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 6306.

Abstract Background: Black men across the African Diaspora experience a disproportionate burden of prostate cancer (CaP). The Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity (iCCaRE) Consortium aims to eliminate CaP burden through global scientific collaboration, innovative research, community-engaged interventions, and next-generation workforce development. The primary objective for this Consortium was to optimize CaP diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship through research, research training and education, community engagement and community outreach. The Consortium integrates digital health technologies, community navigation, precision communication and precision science. Methods: Five full projects and one pilot project were launched across partner institutions in North America and Africa. Supported by multiple cores and services, the research activities included (1) implementation of a Point of Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Virtual Robot Assistant (PPCD-ViRA); (3) initiation of a cancer care at home trial; (4) migrant health studies of Caribbean and Sub-Saharan African immigrants; (5) expansion of genomic and metabolomic research; and (6) digital, psychosocial, and survivorship intervention development. Training and dissemination activities were deployed through iCCaRE TV, webinars, and community engagement programs including the Global Prostate Health Dialogue (Glo-PHD). Results: In one year, accomplishments included 45 presentations, 17 publications, 16 grant submissions, and 3 awards. The consortium delivered 408 live webinar engagements and reached more than 400 men globally through Glo-PHD. PPCD-ViRA was fully developed and prepared for clinical deployment (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mI-HS5R6sk). The African cohort expansion for genomic and metabolomic profiling was activated across several countries, with biospecimen collection underway. Media dissemination generated more than 15,000 views across platforms, including high-impact educational videos (see: www.youtube.com/@iCCaREConsortium). Training achievements included 13 early-career investigators and 7 trained prostate cancer advocates. Conclusions: In just one year, the iCCaRE Consortium Phase 2 made substantial progress toward transforming CaP equity globally. Through multidisciplinary science, digital innovation, and community partnerships, the consortium is building scalable infrastructure to address diagnosis experiences, treatment quality, and survivorship among Black men. Ongoing efforts will continue to advance precision medicine, culturally grounded interventions, and global capacity building. Citation Format: Folakemi T. Odedina, Arnold Merriweather, Roxana S. Dronca, Ernest T. Kaninjing, Solomon Rotimi, Gerardo Colon-Otero, Kimlin Ashing, Ademola A. Popoola, Gladys Asiedu, Opeyemi Bolajoko, Ewan COBRAN, Emelina Asto-Flores, Floyd Willis, Christopher Williams, Monica L. Albertie, Michelle Fudge, Oluwaseyi Toye, Collisa Mahin, Jada Melton, Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity (iCCaRE) Consortium, Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC). Achieving prostate cancer equity globally: Multinational advances from the iCCaRE consortium [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 2382.

Abstract Background: Cancer survivorship requires significant contributions from family caregivers at home. This role can be burdensome because family members play a vital role in the physical, functional, and emotional well-being of patients diagnosed with cancer. Although optimum care throughout the care continuum requires significant caregiver support at home, family caregivers' contribution to survivorship care is usually neglected. We provide the preliminary outcomes of caregivers' challenges and experiences in providing care and survivorship support to Black cancer survivors. We also identified ways to provide support for family caregivers. Methods: This qualitative study obtained information from 8 caregivers who care for Black cancer survivors who have completed treatment in the United States. The study used a phenomenological design to obtain data from participants. In-depth interviews focused on participants' lived experiences caring for Black patients with cancer. The study captured caregivers' personal stories of how they dealt with diagnosis, feelings, emotions, reactions, understanding of the disease, prognosis, and treatment options and decision process, as well as survivorship of their care recipients. All interviews were video recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcript of each participant's interview was reviewed, analyzed, and coded, with emerging themes interpreted. Results: The major cahllenges identified were (1) lack of knowledge of cancer, the disease and treatment course before the diagnoses; (2) home care burden, which include the challenges of combining care for a sick person at home with caring for other members of the family and taking care of domestic chores; (3) patient care navigation, including identifying healthcare professional for specialist care, adequate health insurances, scheduling doctors' appointment, transportation, insurance and treatment paperwork; (4) financial challenges, especially keeping up with job, family income reduction, increase out of pocket spendings, as well as expensive drugs and treatment co-pays. Most of the caregivers agreed that they neglected their personal health while caring for their care recipient. All caregivers wished they received more information and training on how to care for a patient with cancer. Possible solutions identified were care packets providing information on cancer and how to provide care at home, patient care navigation to social determinants of health and financial support programs, counselling for mental health and emotional support, peer support groups for caregivers, health checks, and a contact to call for support. Conclusion: Caring for cancer patients at home is very challenging; having a care packet and caregiving training is important to support survivorship and reduce the caregiving burden experienced by family caregivers. Citation Format: Opeyemi Oreoluwa Bolajoko, Jada Melton, Mary Ellen Young, Folakemi T. Odedina. Perspectives on cancer survivorship: Voices of family caregivers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 1248.