Abstract Purpose: American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) communities continue to face persistent cancer health disparities across the cancer care continuum. In response, 13 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers collaborated to form the first AI/AN/NH Cancer Center Consortium. Methods: In 2024, 13 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers launched the first AI/AN/NH Cancer Center Consortium to coordinate national efforts aimed at improving cancer outcomes for Indigenous populations. The formation process utilized a multi-phase, community-driven approach, including online webinars of representatives from Indigenous communities as well as representatives from cancer centers across the country. These webinars are conducted monthly to engage several cancer centers, all with programming specific to addressing Indigenous cancer health disparities. Discussions centered on structural barriers in the cancer continuum, culturally informed interventions, and opportunities to support Indigenous data sovereignty and self-determined research agendas. The first in-person AI/AN/NH Cancer Think Tank was hosted in March 2025 by the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. The first meeting had three goals: 1) Determine the key cancer health issues with AI/AN/NH communities that research can help address, 2) Understand how to combine traditional ways of knowing with Western scientific methods to develop innovative solutions, and 3) Develop sustainable interventions that will the cancer survival rate for AI/AN/NH populations. The initiative was guided by AI/AN leaders and supported by the Cancer Centers representing all 13 AI/AN/NH Consortium members. Attendees were then able to return to their communities and further collaborate with their cancer centers to begin implementing infrastructure to address challenges discussed during the strategic planning. Results: The first in-person meeting of the AI/AN/NH Consortium was hosted by the Huntsman Cancer Institute. It included over 40 representatives from over 13 cancer centers as well as Indigenous community members representing various tribal nations across the nation. During this strategic planning meeting, cancer center representatives and community partners determined the greatest cancer health needs facing Indigenous peoples in the US. The second in-person meeting of the consortium will be hosted in North Carolina by the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and will continue the strategic planning to address Indigenous cancer health disparities. Conclusion: The AI/AN Cancer Partnership serves as a promising model for centering Indigenous leadership in cancer health research. Its development reflects the importance of tribal sovereignty, community engagement, and structural change. By placing AI/AN/NH voices at the forefront, the Think Tank aims to advance sustainable, culturally grounded strategies to reduce cancer disparities and improve outcomes for Indigenous communities. Citation Format: Stephen R. Dial, Nathan Begay, Linda Burhansstipanov, Ronny A. Bell, Rachel Ceballos, Phyllis Nassi. Highlighting community voices: The formation of the first American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian cancer consortium abstract. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C141.
Dial et al. (Thu,) studied this question.