NMQF Outdoors Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative at Houston Fifth Ward Townhall Meeting

On Thursday, March 13th, the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) took a significant step toward addressing cancer disparities in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward. During a townhall meeting hosted by Councilwoman Letitia Plummer (At-Large), NMQF officially introduced the Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative, a groundbreaking effort aimed at transforming cancer detection and care for residents of this vulnerable community.

Over 100 Fifth Ward residents gathered to witness the premiere of Houston’s Fifth Ward Exposed, a powerful documentary produced by NowIncluded, an Acclinate company. The film shed light on the ongoing environmental and health crises affecting the community, particularly the Union Pacific explosion and the subsequent designation of the area as a cancer cluster. Through personal testimonies, residents shared their harrowing experiences, their struggles for environmental justice, and their interactions with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Following the documentary screening, Dr. Gary Puckrein, President and CEO of NMQF, delivered a compelling presentation on the NMQF Community Health Biobank launched by the Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative, emphasizing the critical need to go beyond evaluating environmental contamination. Dr. Puckrein highlighted the importance of investigating how pollution might be affecting the biology of Fifth Ward residents, particularly in terms of potential cancer biomarkers that may be present in their bodies. Understanding these biological impacts is essential to shifting cancer diagnosis from late-stage to earlier detection, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

A pivotal moment in the initiative’s launch was the enrollment of Councilwoman Letitia Plummer as the first patient in the Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative’s NMQF Community Health Biobank earlier in the week. Her enrollment took place at GRACE Clinic on Liberty Road, in collaboration with Quest Diagnostics. This biobank will play a crucial role in collecting and analyzing health data to identify early cancer risk factors and improve intervention strategies.

Over the next four weeks, canvassers will be going door-to-door in the Fifth Ward, encouraging residents to participate in the registry and research program. The initiative, set to run for the next five years, aims to significantly enhance early cancer detection and care in the community. By fostering local engagement and collaboration, NMQF is educating residents of the Fifth Ward about cutting-edge health interventions that can save lives.

The launch of the Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative marks a crucial step forward in tackling cancer inequities and bringing innovative cancer care solutions to medically underserved communities. With the combined efforts of NMQF, Councilwoman Letitia Plummer, community leaders, and dedicated residents, the Fifth Ward is on path to a healthier future.

Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative partners include Quest Diagnostics, Amgen, Bayer, BioCytics, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Carolina BioOncology, Genentech, Hessian Labs, Merck, and Michigan Department of Health & Human Services.

For more information about enrolling in Houston, visit http://info.nmqf.org/nmqf-community-health-biobank

Watch news coverage of the launch:

KHOU : https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/fifth-ward-cancer-cluster-blood-test/285-aa579f1a-520c-4154-994e-d530838e70e9

ABC 13 – https://abc13.com/post/houstons-fifth-ward-residents-cancer-cluster-sign-groundbreaking-study-surrounding-industrial-contamination-site/16022631/

Houston Matters: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/houston/2025/03/13/515935/fifth-ward-residents-offered-free-cancer-screenings-as-water-soil-testing-continues/

Houston Hoodline: https://hoodline.com/2025/03/houston-s-fifth-ward-launches-free-cancer-screening-program-amid-environmental-health-crisis/