Cancer Prevention & Population Sciences Program

Baylor College Of Medicine, Houston TX

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

CANCER PREVENTION AND POPULATION SCIENCES (CPPS) PROGRAM PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The mission of the Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences (CPPS) Program is to conduct exceptional translational research in cancer prevention and control. CPPS achieves this goal by promoting and facilitating innovative, transdisciplinary scientific interactions focused on reducing cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality. CPPS research focuses on meeting the cancer prevention and control needs of the populations in our catchment area. The Program is led by Drs. Hoda Badr and Philip Lupo, internationally recognized experts in cancer survivorship and genetic epidemiology. CPPS has 41 Research and 13 Clinical Members. Our research portfolio (annual direct) totals $24.1 million, of which $11.6 million is from NCI. During the current funding period, CPPS members published 689 papers, of which 36% were intra-programmatic and 26% inter-programmatic. Approximately 24% were published in journals with an impact factor above 10. Following the last CCSG review and exceptional targeted recruitments, CPPS leadership conducted an extensive strategic planning initiative that re-focused our programmatic research efforts to reflect two themes. Theme 1 (Cancer Etiology and Primary Prevention) includes research on the genetic and environmental causes of pre-malignant and malignant conditions across the lifespan, gene-environment interactions, and primary prevention. This theme also leverages advanced analytics to refine risk assessments, thereby advancing precision medicine by enabling more personalized approaches to cancer prevention. Theme 2 (Secondary Prevention and Cancer Outcomes) focuses on screening and early detection, understanding mechanisms of cancer outcomes, and conducting interventional and observational research to enhance survivorship, cancer care, and outcomes. Overall cancer health, including addressing social determinants of health, is a major emphasis of our Program, underscored by the methodological expertise of our members, which spans a broad spectrum of approaches from data analytics to participatory research methods. This unique blend of expertise both promotes inter- and intra-programmatic collaborations and strengthens integration of our Program themes. Our collaboration with COE has been crucial in establishing bidirectional research-community partnerships to make our research more relevant and impactful by ensuring it is informed by and directly benefits the communities we serve. Together with CRTEC, we have substantially broadened our efforts to train the next generation of cancer prevention and control researchers across the career continuum. In sum, CPPS conducts innovative, translational research that is bolstered by strong funding, productive collaborations, and scholarly output and reflects DLDCCC’s unwavering commitment to cancer care for the community we serve and beyond.