| Light Institute for Global Health and Transformation |
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As we approach a new month, we pause to appreciate our incredible partners who, with dedication and resilience, continue to implement evidence-based strategies that save lives and prevent disease.
Our C3RISE Bootcamp participants are actively in the field—engaging with communities, gathering pilot data, and testing participatory approaches to advance cervical and liver cancer control.
Our scholars remain hard at work, refining their research tools, developing publication briefs, and translating knowledge into impact. Closer to home, our teams are leading clinical trials and Crowdsourcing open calls for innovative ideas to improve population health and strengthen health systems.
As we look ahead, we stand tall and strong—grounded in purpose, united in vision, and inspired by the communities we serve.
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Distinguished Visiting Scholar |
The Light Institute team is counting down the days until our Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Dr. Uchechukwu "Uche" Nwokwu, arrives from Nigeria!
Dr. Nwokwu has an impressive record of accomplishment in medical research, public health initiatives, and policy leadership. He is the National Coordinator of the National Cancer Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja, Nigeria, overseeing policy development, review, advocacy, approval and implementation to tackle cancer burden in the country. He has devoted his career to managing and researching oncological burden, prevention, and treatment, both as a clinical physician and a central policy figure in both academic, teaching hospital institutions and at the federal level, with the Ministry of Health. His significant work and contributions to the field of cancer prevention, treatment, and care, coupled with his deep policy expertise for more grounded pathways to reduce cancer burden has left a profound impact in the public health and policy landscape in Nigeria and abroad.
During his visit, Dr. Nwokwu will engage with faculty, students, and staff through a series of lectures, seminars, and collaborative research projects. His presence will enhance our academic programs and provide invaluable insights into current and emerging challenges in global cancer research and policy. We are particularly excited about the opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration that his visit will foster, as his expertise spans across multiple domains of medical, public health, and health policy practice.
To learn more about Dr. Nwokwu's speaking events and to register, please use the buttons below. We hope to see you there either in person or virtually via Zoom!
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4th Annual Enola Proctor Lecture | |
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On November 21st, Greg Aarons, PhD, of the University of California San Diego will be coming to WashU to discuss "The Why and How of Leadership and Teamwork for Implementation" in the 4th annual Enola Proctor Lecture. Dr. Aarons is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, the Director of the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, and Co-Director of the Center for Organizational Research on Implementation and Leadership at UCSD.
This event is sponsored by the Dissemination and Implementation Science Innovation Research Network (DISIRN) at WashU’s School of Public Health, and is open to the public.
To learn more about Dr. Aarons, the Enola Proctor Lecture, and to register to attend either in person or virtually, please use the button below. We hope you are able to attend!
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Stimulating Training & Access to HIV Research Experiences (STAR) Open Call - EXTENDED! | 🌟 STAR has extended the Open Call - applications now due 11/10/2025 🌟
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The STAR Institute is a year-long program designed to train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in HIV research. STAR Scholars are selected through their participation in a multi-phase participatory action research process.
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Phase 1: The Open Call | Now through November 10, 2025
- STAR applicants are invited to share innovative ways to approach HIV prevention by answering the open call question asking, “How might we work with community organizations to promote HIV prevention services among youth aged 13-24 years old in your community?"
- Phase 2: The Designathon | February 6 - 8, 2026
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Finalist applicants from the Open Call are invited to participate in the three-day virtual Designathon. This participatory action research event includes lectures from mentors and experts in the field, time to work within each team to further refine their idea, and prepare to pitch their innovative research project to a panel of judges.
- Phase 3: The Bootcamp | May 18 - June 26, 2026
- The STAR Innovation Bootcamp is a 6-week hybrid training program for the finalists from the Designathon. During this 6-week bootcamp, STAR Scholars will participate in capacity building courses and training modules focused on crowdsourcing, leadership, grant writing, and more. Teams will also continue to build out their research project with their teams and mentors.
- Phase 4: The Next Year
- Over the next year, the STAR Scholars continue to meet with program leads, mentors, and experts through a supportive online learning community as they continue to implement their research projects with community partners.
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Now through November 10, 2025, undergraduate and graduate students during the 2025 - 2026 academic school from WashU, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Northeastern University, or Georgia State University are invited to apply, sharing their innovative ideas to approach HIV prevention projects.
Please use the buttons below to learn more about STAR and the Open Call, and feel free to share with anyone in your networks who may be eligible and interested in participating!
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On Friday, October 24, the Light Institute's Director, Juliet Iwelunmor, PhD, gave the Karl King Hoagland, Jr. Keynote, at the 2025 She Leads Symposium at WashU. This symposium is an annual gathering to highlight and celebrate women leaders and this year's focus was on global and local impact on health.
During Dr. Juliet's keynote, she shared her passion for sustainable evidence-based interventions in resource-limited settings, love for storytelling and grant writing, and moments from her life that defined her journey to leadership and the work she pursues each day.
Key points from Dr. Juliet's keynote include:
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- Have a plan
- How people learn, adapt, and nurture core values over time can help define the pieces of a plan for the future and allows you to extend commitment from the beginning to the end
- Modify and adapt
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Understand where stakeholders are and meet them there, learn from each struggle and failure along the way, and creatively transform the work to both advance the science and extend the reach of interventions to the populations and communities of focus
- Advance sustainability
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Work within frameworks, track and respond to changes, create meaningful partnerships with a shared goal, and do not be afraid of failure on the way to success
- Sustainment vs. "Innovative Tools"
- Shifting the focus from sustaining to developing tools that enable sustainment allowed for more collaboration, funding, and impact
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Siteman Cancer Research Symposium |
On Friday, October 10, the Light Institute team attended the 6th annual Siteman Cancer Center Research Symposium & Poster Showcase, presenting six posters and one oral presentation.
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Titles of research presented:
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A Participatory Bootcamp Model to Enhance Vaccine Uptake for Cancer Prevention in Nigeria: Strengthening among Early and Mid-Career Investigators
- Presenter: Peter Kalulu, MPH
- A Pilot Evaluation of Crowdsourced HPV Self-Collection and Vaccination Uptake Among Mother-Daughter Pairs
- Presenter: Nneka Okeke, MPH
- Bridging the Research-Policy Gap for Vaccine-Preventable Cancers in Nigeria: Insights from Policy Actors
- Presenter: Temitope Ojo, PhD, MPH
- Evaluating Organizational Readiness for HPV Self-Sampling Implementation in Nigerian Primary Healthcare Centers: A Baseline Assessment Using the Organizational Readiness to Change Assessment (ORCA) Framework
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Examining the Appropriateness and Feasibility of Crowdsourced HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer Screening Interventions among Mother-Daughter Pairs
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Exploring Nigerian Women's Perceptions and Preferences for HPV Self-Sampling: A PEN-3 Cultural Model Study of Women Aged 30-49
- Presenter: Nkiru Obodeochina, MPH
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Her Health, Her Choice: A Qualitative Study on Perceptions, Facilitators, and Preferences toward HPV Vaccinations and HPV Self-Sampling among Nigerian Girls and Women
- Presenter: Reethika Veluri
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International Papillomavirus Society | |
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At the 37th Annual International Papillomavirus Society Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, Onyekachukwu Anikamadu presented her poster titled, “Vaccination Beyond the Clinic: How Young Girls and Women in Lagos Build Informal Ecosystems of HPV Vaccine Access and Trust.” The conference brought together leading global experts dedicated to eliminating HPV related diseases and cancers. Onyeka’s presentation highlighted how young women in Lagos navigate informal networks of information, support, and access for HPV vaccination, emphasizing the importance of community influence and culturally grounded strategies in global health. Sharing her work on this international stage allowed her to exchange ideas with researchers and practitioners advancing HPV prevention across research, clinical care, and public health.
Throughout the conference, Onyeka attended sessions on HPV biology, vaccination efforts, and cervical cancer elimination strategies, deepening her knowledge of HPV related diseases and implementation challenges in diverse settings. She also connected with scholars and global health leaders who are committed to expanding equitable access to HPV vaccines. This experience strengthened her commitment to advancing HPV vaccination in Nigeria and sub Saharan Africa and reflects her growing leadership in implementation science and global cancer prevention.
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The Light Institute has a LinkedIn! |
If you haven't followed us on LinkedIn yet, please do by clicking the button below to stay up to date on our work and research, learn more about our grants and upcoming events, meet members of the team, and more.
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Light Institute for Global Health and Transformation |
Mailing Address: 660 S. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
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4950 Children's Place | St. Louis, MO 63110 US
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