ColoCare: colorectal cancer survivorship and prognosis
Official title: Transdisciplinary Team Science in Colorectal Cancer Prognosis: the ColoCare Study
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11210537 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer to find blood, tissue, stool, and lifestyle markers that help predict outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2016 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $95,364 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA206110-10S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11210537 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer who can provide medical records and periodic biospecimens and complete follow-up visits or surveys.
✕Less likely to help
People without colorectal cancer, those unable or unwilling to give specimens or participate in follow-up, or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
If I join ColoCare, I would be enrolled soon after my colorectal cancer diagnosis and asked to share my medical records, lifestyle information, and symptoms. The team collects biospecimens from me over time, such as blood, stool, urine, and tumor tissue, and follows my health for years to track recurrence, side effects, and survival. Researchers combine those samples with clinical data and questionnaire information to look for biological and behavioral signs linked to better or worse outcomes. The study includes many centers and already has thousands of participants, so it aims to represent people from different places and backgrounds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests and approaches that better predict recurrence and guide personalized follow-up or treatment for colorectal cancer survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Other prospective cancer survivorship cohorts have identified useful risk factors and some biomarkers, but combining serial molecular, microbiome, and lifestyle data across many centers is a relatively advanced and evolving approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ulrich, Cornelia M — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Ulrich, Cornelia M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Colorectal cancer prognosis through a broad, collaborative study
A large, multi-center study follows people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer to find biomarkers and patterns that predict outcomes and guide future care.
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ColoCare: following people with colorectal cancer to find blood and microbiome signs
This project follows people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer and collects blood, stool, urine, and tumor samples to find markers that help predict outcomes.
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Body fat, muscle, and clot-related inflammation in colorectal cancer outcomes
This project uses AI analysis of CT scans plus blood and tumor tests to link patterns of fat and muscle with clotting-related inflammation that may change outcomes for people with colorectal cancer.
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ColoCare: tracking health and recovery after colorectal cancer
This project follows people with colorectal cancer over time to find blood, stool, and tissue signs that predict recovery and long-term outcomes.
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Investigating how body fat affects colorectal cancer outcomes
This study is looking at how being overweight might affect the outcomes of colorectal cancer by using special technology to get a better picture of body fat and muscle, and it hopes to find new ways to help treat patients based on their unique needs.
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Improving colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care.
This study is working to help more people get screened for colorectal cancer and receive the follow-up care they need, especially those who haven't been screened much before, so that everyone can have better access to important health checks and improve their overall health.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.