Cancer Prevention and Control

University Of Chicago, Chicago IL

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

The mission of the Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) Program at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) is to: (1) Promote novel cancer population science discoveries through interdisciplinary research; (2) Develop efficacious and disseminable interventions that prevent cancer, detect it early, or improve survivorship; and (3) Translate this knowledge into clinical and public health practices that benefits our catchment area and beyond. The CPC Program facilitates collaborative research across UCCCC programs and promotes team science, faculty development, and translational initiatives aligned with institutional priorities. The CPC Program consists of 38 scientists from 10 Departments across the University, who are supported by strong NIH ($7.6M) funding, including $4.7M from NCI and have been highly productive during this funding cycle (752 publications, 22% in high-impact journals). Guided by UCCCC strategic priorities, CPC leaders promote research and collaboration by organizing working groups and retreats, supporting pilot projects, shaping UCCCC Shared Resources, contributing to faculty recruitment, and providing mentorship opportunities. Investments support novel CPC-relevant research infrastructure at the local, national, and international levels, including the development of population-based cohorts, ancestry-informed case-control studies, and biomedical data commons. To continue to build upon and extend the program’s accomplishments, resources, and expertise, we propose the following complementary aims that span the cancer control continuum. Aim 1: to investigate environmental, lifestyle, genetic, biological and behavioral risk factors to mechanistically understand how they cause and increase risk of cancer. Aim 2: to develop, test, and implement novel interventions for primary prevention and early detection of cancer in healthy populations. Aim 3: to assess determinants of survivorship and develop interventions that (a) optimize delivery of precision oncology, (b) enhance health-related quality of life, and (c) improve outcomes among cancer survivors. These aims align with 4 UCCCC’s Strategic Pillars: (#1) reduce the catchment area’s cancer burden and improve outcomes across populations, (#4) develop novel imaging modalities to optimize screening, (#6) leverage epigenetics to understand cancer mechanisms, and (#8) foster inter-programmatic interactions. Guided by these aims and priorities, the CPC Program is well-positioned for continued growth. Future efforts will focus on (1) embedding intervention and implementation scientists within healthcare systems to support the integration of prevention and control strategies tailored to institutional and regional needs, and (2) testing innovative health communication approaches to increase adoption of CPC research findings and inform clinical best practices.