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Vancouvers Downtown Eastside (DTES) community, one of poorest locales in Canada, has shown to be high-risk for oral mucosal abnormalities, including oral cancer.From our previous study, this community not only exposes to high-risk factors (tobacco and alcohol consumption, immune-complexity, and high-risk for Human Papillomavirus infection), but also presents with a high incidence of oral cancer: 1 oral cancer identified in 150 screened dental patients.This is much higher comparing to the rest of Canada and the US (1∶10,000).Studies have shown that regular dental care is related to early-staged oral cancer detection.Traditionally dentistry is within the private health sector and access to dental service can be challenging to the DTES residents.There is an urgent need to develop an effective strategy for oral cancer screening in such a high-risk community.Additionally, oral infection and inflammation are commonly seen in this community.In British Columbia we are evaluating several technologies, including fluorescence visualization and high resolution imaging microscopy cytometry, and their interactions for the screening and early detection.The main objective of this presentation is to share the experience working in this hard-to-reach, medically underserved,yet high-risk community in oral cancer screening with a special focus on the strategies used to raise awareness of oral cancer and to promote oral cancer screening.We have also explored the available social assistance programs to dental care, the utilization and the potential barriers of these programs and the potential translational values using novel technologies developed in tertiary cancer center in enhancing the effectiveness in oral cancer screening in this low-income, inner-city community.