Cancer Prevention and Control Program

CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM: ABSTRACT The overall goal of the Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) program is to understand and address high-impact cancers and cancer problems in Oklahoma (SCC catchment area). Specific aims of the program focus on: 1) identifying genetic, environmental, behavioral, and social risk factors that contribute to high cancer incidence and mortality in Oklahoma; 2) developing, evaluating and implementing interventions to reduce cancer incidence and mortality; and 3) improving cancer outcomes through enhancing care access, delivery and survivorship. Close interactions with the Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) Associate Director (Mark Doescher, MD) and Core help facilitate catchment area-focused research and community partnerships. CPC program aims have evolved since the last CCSG, driven by center and program planning, new strategic opportunities, maturation of program activities, and in response to emerging cancer problems in the catchment area. Revised program aims now reflect a broader scope as well as greater integration and synergy of activity to address cancer in the catchment area. The CPC program has 43 members (25 full and 18 associate), representing 18 academic departments and a range of transdisciplinary expertise, including: cancer risk factors, community-based participatory research; novel interventions for tobacco prevention and cessation; emerging tobacco products; basic mechanisms of addiction; care coordination, delivery and survivorship; and basic mechanisms of treatment-related side effects. The CPC program made significant progress during the past five years on all metrics for programmatic activities. The CPC program has experienced significant increases in NCI ($2.64M  $3.65M) and total peer-reviewed research funding ($5.58M  $7.27M) since the last CCSG, reflecting strategic planning, targeted recruitment, allocation of developmental funds, and value-added support from the SCC. Key publication metrics have also significantly increased since the last CCSG, including: intra-programmatic (36%  40%), inter-programmatic (6%  29%), multi-institutional (64%  82%), and high impact (1%  8%) [impact factor ≥10]. The nearly five-fold increase in inter-programmatic collaborative publications directly addresses a program critique in the prior CCSG. The CPC program hosts numerous training and mentorship programs for under- and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty. The CPC program is led by Tim VanWagoner, PhD, Darla Kendzor, PhD, and C.V. Rao, PhD, who have complementary transdisciplinary expertise to advance program aims.