Cancer Prevention and Control

University Of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

UWCCC Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) Program Summary Co-Leaders: Lisa Cadmus-Bertram and Nihal Ahmad PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Cancer Prevention & Control (CPC) Program spans basic, clinical, and population science to identify effective approaches to reduce the burden of cancer for patients, their families, and communities through improved prevention, early detection, and survival. In support of this overarching goal, the CPC program has defined three thematic aims. Aim 1: Identify novel targets, biomarkers, agents, and strategies for cancer prevention and risk reduction. Members continue to have national impact through tobacco cessation, chemoprevention, and vaccine intervention science including drug development, clinical trial conduct, and generating evidence to guide health policies. The UWCCC impacts national strategies for implementing prevention research by directing the coordinating centers for the NCI-supported Cancer Center Cessation Initiative and the Chemoprevention Consortium. Aim 2: Evaluate biopsychosocial factors and interventions that influence the patient and family experience of cancer and supportive and palliative care needs. Members conduct observational and interventional studies to characterize symptom experiences. Members also develop and test pharmacologic, cognitive, and behavioral lifestyle intervention strategies to improve patient- and family-centered outcomes across the survivorship continuum, from diagnosis through end of life. Aim 3: Conduct health services research, emphasizing provider and system factors, with the goal of enhancing the quality of cancer care. Members identify effective approaches for improving delivery of cancer screening tests, diagnostic examinations, and cancer therapies. CPC members are using innovative simulation modeling, bioinformatics, and multidisciplinary teams to improve the early detection and treatment of cancer, and to leverage insights obtained through analysis of large databases to test approaches for improving access to guideline-concordant clinical care. Across these three aims, CPC projects directly address the priorities of the UWCCC catchment area including the elimination of cancer health disparities. The CPC Program has 40 CCSG members in 17 departments and 6 schools/colleges. Since 2017, CPC members published 791 peer-reviewed manuscripts (22% intra-programmatic, 22% inter-programmatic, 56% inter-institutional). PIs hold $14.2 million (direct costs) in cancer-related grant funding with $6.5 million (direct costs) from NCI. The CPC Program supports inter- and intra-programmatic interaction through pilot grants, seminars and retreats, experienced mentoring, and collaborative working groups informed by evidence-based approaches from team science scholarship. Guided by programmatic and center-wide strategic planning, priorities for the CPC program over the next 5 years include addressing the challenges related to expanding survivorship studies, reducing cancer health disparities, expanding precision prevention research, and expanding studies of colorectal and lung cancer early detection. Thus, the overall objective of CPC is to reduce the burden of cancer for patients, their families, and communities via improved prevention, early detection, treatment delivery, and survivorship support.