ColoCare: following people with colorectal cancer to find blood and microbiome signs
Transdisciplinary Team Science in Colorectal Cancer Prognosis: the ColoCare Study
This project follows people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer and collects blood, stool, urine, and tumor samples to find 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 ID | NIH-11388062 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be enrolled soon after a colorectal cancer diagnosis and asked to provide medical information and biospecimens (tumor tissue, blood, stool, urine) at several time points while researchers track your health over years. The study combines lifestyle and behavioral data with lab analyses of blood and microbiome samples to look for molecular signs tied to recurrence, survival, and patient-reported outcomes. It is a multi-center effort that has already enrolled over 3,000 participants and routinely follows them for clinical events. Findings are intended to guide treatment choices, follow-up care, and the development of new interventions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer who can provide clinical information and biospecimens and agree to regular follow-up visits or sample collections.
Not a fit: People without colorectal cancer, those diagnosed long ago, or those unwilling/unable to give biospecimens or participate in follow-up are unlikely to get direct benefit from joining.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to tests that better predict who is at higher risk of recurrence and help personalize follow-up and treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Previous cohort studies have found some prognostic markers, but combining detailed lifestyle data with serial blood, stool, and tissue samples across many centers is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- 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
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 below.