The Rector of Universidad del Norte, Adolfo Meisel Roca, the Academic Vice Rector, Alberto De Castro, receiving Purdue University professors Cornelius Byrum and Michael Preston along with representatives of Health Sciences and Law, Political Science and International Relations, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Directorate of International Cooperation and Development.

Purdue University delegation traveled to Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla and Maria la Baja, Colombia, marking the launch of a groundbreaking data science and interdisciplinary studies for health equity research initiative between Purdue University, Universidad del Norte, Universidad ICESI, and Universidad de Cartagena. This initiative, led by Dr. Michael A. Preston, Director of the RURaL Lab for Dissemination & Implementation Research in Cancer Disparities (Reaching the Underserved, Rural, and Low-Income) in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, along with Cornelius L. Bynum, faculty from the African American Studies and Research Center (AASRC), aims to develop innovative cancer screening and prevention strategies tailored for medically underserved communities in the United States, Caribbean, and South America.

Research Collaboration: Understanding Cancer Disparities

The initiative integrates macro health data analytics with historical, anthropological, and ethnographic perspectives to contextualize health disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Research teams will focus on developing culturally tailored health messaging to increase CRC screening in medically underserved communities, informed by the lived experiences of populations in Indiana, Barranquilla, and Maria la Baja and surrounding regions.

The trip reinforced the need to combine humanities perspectives with health data, a key takeaway from the Wayuu and Maria la Baja communities, where local narratives highlight structural health disparities that impact CRC screening access and prevention efforts.

Yoseth Ariza Araujo - Director of the Center for Afrodiasporic Studies-CEAF. CEAF - Icesi University Campus

Advancing Education: Curriculum Development & Faculty-Student Exchanges

The collaboration also seeks to expand educational opportunities through COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) co-teaching models, fostering joint course development between Purdue, Universidad del Norte, Universidad ICESI, and Universidad de Cartagena. Faculty are currently developing a joint graduate course to launch in Fall 2025, with a follow-up course in Spring 2026. Plans are also underway to establish a study abroad program for Summer 2026, offering Purdue students hands-on research experience in Colombia.

Graduate and undergraduate students from both institutions will benefit from research assistantships and internships focused on implementation science, with an expected 3-5 graduate student research proposals emerging from the initiative.

Community Impact: Implementation & Outreach

A key goal of the initiative is to deliver targeted cancer screening and prevention messaging to medically underserved communities. By leveraging insights from research and education, the partnership will design an implementation strategy that strengthens community engagement and intervention models in Indiana and Colombia.

With faculty and students working together across disciplines, this initiative represents a transformative step toward health equity across the Atlantic World, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations receive access to life-saving cancer prevention strategies. Stay tuned for more updates as Purdue, Universidad del Norte, Universidad ICESI, and Universidad de Cartagena continue advancing this vital work under the leadership of Dr. Michael A. Preston.