UCCRC Research Program Six

Cancer Risk and Prevention

Program Leaders:  Brian Chiu, PhD and Andrea King, PhD

This Program, formerly named Clinical Cancer Genetics and Prevention, has undergone substantial growth, and has been renamed Cancer Risk and Prevention to more accurately reflect the depth, breadth, and new areas of strength in population research. The overall goals of the Program are to harness the intellectual capacity at the University to determine the genetic, psychological, behavioral, and socio-environmental basis of cancer, and to disseminate cancer control efforts through research in our local community. Research interactions focus on elucidating the pathogenesis of cancer, with the ultimate goal of developing new and improved methods for risk assessment, early detection, and prevention of cancer. Thematically, the research is focused on high-risk individuals defined by genetics, exposure (behavior, environmental), and/or other vulnerabilities (e.g., older age) or disparities based on race/ethnicity or access to health care. The Program has grown to 35 members from 11 departments and two University Divisions (Biological Sciences, Social Sciences). As a cross-cutting theme, the majority of our program members are focused on health disparities research.  The scientific goals of the programs are:

• to elucidate the genetic and environmental basis for common cancers (breast, ovarian, colorectal, prostate, lung, and skin), and to translate this new knowledge into clinical and public health practice;
• to develop animal models for chemoprevention studies and identify biomarkers for early detection of cancer;
• to identify the psychological and bio-behavioral basis of cancer risk and prevention; and
• to establish an organized outreach research effort in the Southside Chicago neighborhoods to enhance and empower their participation in University research, educational and clinical services.

Program Highlights 2008

 

 

Program 1
Cell Signaling and Gene Regulation
Program Leaders: Marsha Rosner, PhD and Suzanne Conzen, MD

Program 2
Molecular Genetics and Hematopoiesis
Program Leaders: Wendy Stock, MD and Michael Thirman, MD

Program 3
Immunology and Cancer
Program Leader: Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD

Program 4
Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics
Program Leaders: Everett E. Vokes, MD and M. Eileen Dolan, PhD

Program 5
Advanced Imaging
Program Leaders: Greg Karczmar, PhD and Heber MacMahon, MD

Program 6
Cancer Risk and Prevention
Program Leaders: Brian Chiu, PhD and Andrea King, PhD