Genetic tools to predict who will get colorectal cancer and when
Official title: Building Data Science Tools for Genetic Models of Colorectal Cancer Progression and Risk
Funded at Durham VA Medical Center · NIH-11212818 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will build genetic-based tools to help predict which people are more likely to develop colorectal cancer and the likely timing so screening can be better personalized.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Durham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005718-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11212818 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults eligible for colorectal cancer screening, especially those with a history of precancerous polyps, a family history of CRC, or available genetic/medical records to share.
✕Less likely to help
People without available genetic data or longitudinal medical records, those not interested in data/sample sharing, or those needing immediate cancer treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You will be asked to imagine researchers putting together genetic information, tissue samples, and long-term colonoscopy records to create a shared data resource. They plan to look at when specific genetic changes appear in precancerous polyps and match that timing to real-world follow-up so they can make individual risk timelines. The team will use existing VA screening cohorts and other datasets and apply new statistical methods to build and test these prediction tools. The work focuses on using existing medical records and donated samples rather than routine extra procedures for participants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors tailor when to start and how often to do colorectal screening, finding cancers earlier and avoiding unnecessary colonoscopies for low-risk people.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows colonoscopy and polyp removal prevent colorectal cancer and some genetic risk models can estimate lifetime risk, but using the timing of genetic changes to predict when cancer will develop is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hauser, Elizabeth R — Durham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hauser, Elizabeth R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Ceramides and how they affect metabolism and colorectal cancer in adults
A study in adults with obesity-related health issues will explore how a fat-related molecule called ceramide influences metabolic problems and colorectal cancer risk.
-
Automated point-of-care DNA methylation test for colorectal cancer in LMICs
A fast, affordable blood test using DNA markers to help identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer in low- and middle-income countries.
-
Rewiring Colorectal Cancer to Harness Therapeutic Hyperactivation
A Yale team is exploring brain-storming new ways to treat colorectal cancer by safely boosting certain cancer signaling pathways to kill cancer cells and by reshaping cancer cell states to improve responses to existing therapies.
-
Comparative modeling to guide colorectal cancer screening and care
A researcher team will use computer models to study how access to care, risk, and new screening options affect colorectal cancer outcomes and costs for adults in the US.
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.