SOPH and CCRI strengthen collaboration in cancer research and community engagement

The John D. Bower School of Population Health is strengthening its collaboration with the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute as UMMC works toward National Cancer Institute designation.

That effort is a top institutional priority and one that depends on more than clinical cancer care alone. To support the path toward NCI designation, CCRI is expanding its focus on cancer research, including epidemiology, prevention, population science and community engagement. SOPH faculty, staff and students bring expertise in each of those areas.

The collaboration also reflects a meaningful connection between SOPH’s past, present and future. Leslie Musshafen, PhD, the first person to receive a PhD from SOPH, now serves as associate director of administration of CCRI and assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the School of Population Health.

“SOPH’s growing partnership with CCRI shows how population health training can support work that reaches across research, administration, prevention and community engagement,” Musshafen said. “As we work toward NCI designation, it is important that our cancer efforts are informed by data, shaped by community needs and focused on improving outcomes for Mississippians.”

The collaboration reflects the shared importance of data, prevention, community partnerships and health equity in improving cancer outcomes. SOPH’s work in population health science, epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, health systems and community-focused research can help support CCRI projects and extend their impact across Mississippi.

The timing is significant. UMMC is preparing to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new home of CCRI, a facility that will support cancer research and provide specialized care for Mississippians. The project is part of a broader institutional commitment to growing cancer research, recruiting researchers and clinical faculty, developing programs and building the infrastructure needed to support NCI designation.

Recent recognitions also highlight the connections between SOPH, CCRI and cancer-focused service in Mississippi. Justin Turner, MD, assistant professor-education in the Department of Preventive Medicine and community health officer for CCRI, was honored with the American Cancer Society Mississippi 2025 Clinical Champion of the Year Award.

UMMC CCRI also was recognized as the No. 1 source of referrals to the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Jackson. Musshafen accepted the recognition on behalf of CCRI.

These honors reflect the many ways population health connects to cancer prevention, treatment and support. Cancer outcomes are shaped not only by clinical care, but also by screening, access, geography, social conditions, patient navigation, community partnerships and the systems that help patients and families receive care.

Through continued collaboration with CCRI, SOPH can help support work that considers those broader factors and moves research into practice. The partnership also provides opportunities for students and faculty to contribute to projects that address real-world cancer challenges in Mississippi.

By bringing together expertise from across UMMC, SOPH and CCRI can help advance cancer research, strengthen outreach and support efforts to reduce the burden of cancer in the state.