Senate committee advances funding for UH Cancer Center pilot cohort study on disparities, including landfill exposure

The Senate Committee on Higher Education voted March 18 to pass House Bill 1300 HD1, which would appropriate state funds for a pilot feasibility cohort study led by the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center focused on social determinants of health, environmental exposures and resilience factors for Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Filipinos.

Researchers and advocacy groups testified in support. "This year alone, over 9,000 Hawaii residents will be diagnosed with cancer, and 2,400 will lose their lives," social‑science researcher Kira Sano said, urging the committee to fund research into disparities that affect diagnosis and outcomes.

University witnesses described the pilot as a two‑year feasibility study at roughly $500,000 per year to recruit between 5,000 and 10,000 Hawai‘i participants for state‑level analyses; they said national expansion with federal funding could follow, with full study costs estimated at $2–3 million per year if pursued. Testimony said the study would include analysis of living near landfills, citing Nanakuli as an area of concern.

Committee members questioned how the data would be used and whether the pilot would lead to concrete policy or screening changes. Researchers said the longitudinal evidence would support targeted screening guidance and stronger grant applications to federal funders, which could in turn enable public‑health or policy actions but that specific regulatory outcomes would be for policymakers and stakeholders to pursue.

The committee voted to pass HB1300 HD1 with an amendment directing the Cancer Center to seek federal funding; the draft’s appropriation amount remained blank in the committee document. Chair Kim and Vice Chair Kidani voted aye; Senator Hashimoto and Senator Fevella voted aye; Senator Fukunaga was excused.