Project 02: Cancer Control (CC)

PROJECT SUMMARY – CANCER CONTROL (CC) The Cancer Control (CC) Program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC), led by Electra Paskett, PhD, and Theodore Wagener, PhD, has 53 members from 21 Departments and 7 OSU Colleges (Arts & Sciences, Dentistry, Education & Human Ecology, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health). The overall goal of the CC Program is to conduct research to reduce the incidence, mortality and morbidity of cancer in our catchment area, the state of Ohio, and beyond. The CC Program conducts research across the cancer control continuum, from etiology through survivorship, and across the lifespan. Crosscutting themes unite the aims of the program and include policy and underserved/minority populations, with a focus on the priority cancers of the OSUCCC. Our research also capitalizes on our members’ strengths, such as epidemiology, biology and behavior, and includes trans-disciplinary research teams to address research aims. The Specific Aims of the CC Program are to: 1) Identify molecular, genetic, and behavioral factors related to cancer incidence and mortality at a population level; 2) Develop and test behavioral interventions that prevent cancer development or facilitate early detection; and, 3) Assess and intervene on issues of cancer survivorship (including active cancer patients and survivors). CC Program members published 1,028 cancer-relevant manuscripts between 12/01/14 and 11/30/19. Of these, 17% were intra-programmatic (multiple authors from CC Program), 22% were inter-programmatic (authors from multiple OSUCCC Programs), and 74% were multi-institutional (authors from both CC and another institution). The total collaborative publications is 87%. CC Program funding stands at $7.7M in overall direct, cancer-focused funding, of which $6.7M is peer-reviewed, including $6.2M direct funding from NIH ($3.6M from NCI). Over the last 5 years, CC Program members have accrued 21,450 participants to trials; 4,807 to non-therapeutic/interventional trials and 16,643 to non-therapeutic/ non-interventional trials. Future plans for the CC Program include increasing research in: 1) molecular and genetic epidemiology; 2) patient outcomes; 3) survivorship, including the effects of immunotherapy on patient outcomes through collaborations with the new OSUCCC Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology; and 4) tobacco use and related health-effects through the new OSUCCC Center for Tobacco Research.