Teaming Up for the Health of the Midwest

In 2025, The University of Kansas Cancer Center and its partners hosted several first-time symposia, each designed to foster collaboration and address emerging challenges in cancer research and public health. Two events, the Microbiome Research Symposium and the Midwest Data Workshop, highlighted the power of bringing together experts to advance shared goals. 

Microbiome Research Symposium 

The inaugural Microbiome Research Symposium welcomed researchers from across the region to explore how the human microbiome influences health and disease. With growing evidence linking microbial communities to conditions such as cancer, autoimmunity and gastrointestinal disorders, the symposium provided a timely platform for knowledge-sharing. 

Speakers represented a wide variety of fields including immunology, microbiology, gastroenterology, neurology, oncology, dietetics and data science – underscoring the microbiome’s relevance across many disciplines. The event featured presentations spanning basic science to clinical practice, along with a “speed dating” session designed to spark new collaborations among the more than 80 attendees. 

Midwest Data Workshop 

In February, the Midwest Data Workshop assembled more than 40 data, public health and research professionals from Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas and Nebraska. Hosted by the cancer center and the Masonic Cancer Alliance, the workshop united state epidemiologists, cancer registrars, data scientists, state health department and federal agency and community outreach leaders to improve cancer outcomes across the region. 

The event was guided by a planning committee with representatives from the University of Iowa, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Siteman Cancer Center. Formed in 2024, the committee identified a need for stronger collaboration among cancer registries, National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers and state health departments to better understand our region, guide community engagement and enhance research collaborations. 

The workshop led to the creation of two workgroups focused on catchment area surveys, small area data estimates and all-claims payers’ data. These groups will continue working together to improve data sharing and inform strategies that address cancer-related challenges in the Midwest.