Overview
Epidemiology is the scientific study of the causes and distribution of disease in populations. The National Cancer Institute’s Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP), in the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, provides opportunities for investigators to increase understanding of cancer causes and prevention in human populations. EGRP supports research in four areas:
- Clinical and translational epidemiology, including factors that influence development of cancer among persons with underlying diseases and conditions; the progression, recurrence, and mortality from cancer; and development of new primary cancers.
- Host susceptibility factors that influence personal susceptibility to cancer in humans, such as genetic, epigenetic, immunological, hormonal, and biological pathways; and social, cultural, racial, and ethnic factors.
- Methods and technologies for epidemiologic data collection, study design and analysis, and development and adaptation of laboratory and technical approaches for large studies in human populations.
- Modifiable risk factors to reduce cancer risk in humans, such as diet and nutrition; alcohol; physical activity and energy balance; tobacco; infectious diseases; physical and chemical agents; and medical exposures, including medications and treatments.
EGRP is the largest funder of cancer epidemiology grants nationally and worldwide. View current funding opportunities for cancer epidemiology and genetics research.
EGRP consists of the Office of the Associate Director and four Branches that address the specific areas of research described above.
Mission
Deborah (Debbie)
M. Winn, Ph.D.
Acting Associate
Director EGRP’s mission is to increase our understanding of the determinants
of cancer and cancer-related outcomes in human populations. This
mission includes using an epidemiologic approach to facilitate movement
of discoveries in the basic sciences and improved technologies to
studies in human populations, discoveries about the determinants
of cancer and cancer-related health outcomes after cancer into clinical
and public health practice, and the movement of scientific knowledge
from clinical and public health to human studies and basic biology.
Cancer occurrence is usually measured by development of an incident
cancer. Health outcomes after cancer include recurrence, survival,
second primary cancers, new health conditions, and mortality. Determinants
of cancer occurrence and health outcomes include behavioral, environmental,
infectious, medical, and social and cultural factors and life events
and experiences that have a health impact as well as genetic factors
and other personal susceptibility factors.
Most cancers are multi-factorial in etiology and require an understanding
of how these factors modify and interact with each other in leading
to cancer. EGRP achieves its mission through leadership of a comprehensive
extramural program focused on cancer epidemiology using study designs
such as cohort, case-control, case series, and family-based designs.
Studies have also included the application of geographic information
systems (GISs) to address questions about cancer risk.
Consortia Facilitation
EGRP also exerts its leadership role by facilitating
the development and operation of consortia that
can conduct the types of large-scale collaborative epidemiologic
studies involving sharing and pooling data needed to address complex
questions about the etiology of cancer. Support is provided in numerous
ways such as through meeting support, grant support, assistance in
identifying partners with similar research interests, advice on policies
and processes that have proven successful with other consortia, participation
on steering committees, and in evaluating established consortia.
Daniela Seminara, Ph.D., M.P.H., with the Office of the EGRP Associate
Director, is Scientific Consortia
Coordinator.
The scientific discoveries from EGRP-supported research are critical to the
goals of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) because they may inform
basic biology, lead to improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
of cancer, improve quality of life, and reduce morbidity and mortality
after a cancer diagnosis.
Program Functions
- Plans, develops, directs, coordinates and evaluates a
comprehensive program of extramural epidemiologic research
in human populations spanning from basic epidemiologic methodologic
research to etiologic research related to: cancer risk factors
that may be modifiable such as nutrition, physical activity
and energy balance, infectious diseases, and physical and chemical
agents; host (i.e., personal) susceptibility factors such as
genetic, epigenetic, immunological and hormonal biological pathways; factors
that influence development of cancer among persons with underlying
diseases and conditions; and progression, recurrence, new primary
cancers, and mortality from cancer among cancer survivors;
- plans, develops, directs, coordinates and evaluates a program
of epidemiologic research to study differences in cancer susceptibility
and risk in individuals and populations and the multiple environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors that jointly contribute to cancer, with
the ultimate goal of elucidating the etiology of cancer;
- conducts continuing strategic assessments to determine needs and
future directions in cancer epidemiology;
- develops new research initiatives and manages research
resources needed for a coordinated, comprehensive program;
- develops and participates in multi-disciplinary, trans-Institute
and trans-agency initiatives in areas relating to program responsibilities;
- represents the program area in management and scientific
decision-making related to cancer epidemiology within the Institute
and with other organizations;
- provides a broad spectrum of information, advice and consultation
to individual scientists and institutional science management
officials about NIH and NCI funding and scientific review policies
and procedures, preparation of grant applications and funding
instruments;
- provides programmatic and consultative support to other
divisions and institutes, as well as other government agencies
and private sector organizations, to facilitate the dissemination
of information about the risk factors and causes of cancer
to inform cancer prevention and control interventions;
- develops and participates in trans-NIH, DHHS and private/public
initiatives in areas relating to program responsibilities,
including advancement of the science of cancer epidemiology;
- implements Public Laws as directed; and
- meets with investigators and the relevant scientific community
to exchange information and keep abreast of and evaluate research
trends.
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