Screening, Prevention, Etiology, and Cancer Survivorship

Screening, Prevention, Etiology, and Cancer Survivorship Program Summary The Screening, Prevention, Etiology, and Cancer Survivorship (SPECS) Program advances research across the broad spectrum of cancer control, including etiology, prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship. SPECS research coalesces around 4 research themes: 1) Reducing the harms of tobacco, 2) Preventing cancer through screening and intervention, 3) Improving cancer outcomes, and 4) Childhood cancer epidemiology. SPECS members are focused on unique cancer concerns in our catchment area, including cancer disparities in special populations and elevated rates of melanoma and hematologic cancers. The impact of the Program is evident with research findings leading to changes in policy around commercial tobacco products and national guidelines for cancer screening. Three Specific Aims support the research themes of the SPECS Program: 1) Prevent cancer through identification of risk and protection factors and develop novel approaches to reduce these risks, 2) Improve cancer outcomes with tailored screening and novel interventions in high-risk populations, and 3) Identify factors that impact prognosis and quality of life among cancer survivors. The SPECS Program includes 50 members, representing 6 schools and 20 departments, and has 2 Co-Leaders: Anne Blaes, MD, MS, a Professor and Division Director of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation in the Medical School; and Heather Nelson, MPH, PhD, a Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health in the School of Public Health. For the last budget year, these members were supported by $10.5 million in cancer-relevant research funding (direct costs), of which $4.8 million is from the National Cancer Institute. The Masonic Cancer Center (MCC) has supported the work of the Program in several value-added ways. The Analytical Biochemistry Shared Resource facilitates biomarker work, and the Biostatistics and Cancer Informatics Shared Resources support the design of studies and analysis of data. Community Outreach and Engagement has provided data on cancer research needs within our catchment area and provided guidance to members on conducting community-engaged research. In addition, MCC has provided strategic investment through pilot project funding. The Program, in turn, brings added value to MCC by bringing clinical and population-based perspectives with a focus of translating research to practice and policy and addressing health equity and cancer concerns in our catchment area. Mentoring and training are a priority for the Program, with a strong track record of early-career investigators developing independent research programs. Future directions for the SPECS Program include 2 new initiatives, one around aging and cancer and a second on environmental exposures and cancer.