Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program

The UNC Lineberger Cancer Prevention and Control Program focuses on the development, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based interventions and policy approaches to improve cancer outcomes in North Carolina and beyond. Our program is comprised of 56 program members and fosters strong collaborations between faculty from the six schools; Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Pharmacy, Media and Journalism, and the College of Arts and Sciences and 28 departments. The CPC program has four broad themes: (1) Implementing health promotion interventions to reduce cancer risk factors; (2) Developing cancer communication strategies to improve cancer prevention and control; (3) Improving quality of cancer care and long-term outcomes for cancer survivors; and (4) Studying patterns of cancer care, screening, and prevention to inform interventions and policy initiatives that improve cancer outcomes. Highlights of our nationally recognized research by program investigators include: tobacco control policy research on the design and efficacy of graphic cigarette warning labels that is guiding FDA policy; research on sales and marketing of electronic cigarettes, including interventions to prevent adolescent e-cigarette use; research on digital and mobile interventions for diet, obesity, physical activity, and symptom management; novel patient-reported outcomes studies that inform national policy; and implementing interventions in our Catchment area of North Carolina focused on eliminating disparities. The Program is led by Dr. Kurt M. Ribisl, a behavioral scientist, and Dr. Ethan Basch, a medical oncologist and health services researcher. Program members are PIs of three NCI funded pre- and post-doctoral training grants. The Program adds value in terms of integrative activities and opportunities for intra- and cross-program collaboration; professional development and networking support for junior faculty CPC members; access to shared resources such as the Communications for Health Applications and Interventions, Biostatistics, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Core; as well as space, seminars, retreats, training, and education. Since our last renewal, UNC Lineberger has benefited the Program through strong support for infrastructure, faculty recruitments, extensive use of shared resources, and providing developmental funds as befits one of three major UNC Lineberger strategic directions, “Optimizing Cancer Outcomes in North Carolina.” During the last funding period, program members have published 1359 cancer-related articles, 26% were intra-programmatic and 19% were inter-programmatic (38% collaborative). In 2019, our program members held grants totaling $18.9M (direct cost) in cancer-relevant extramural funding, including $6.8M (direct costs) from the NCI and $8.9M in other peer-reviewed funding.