IARC guide to cancer-causing agents
Official title: IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans
Funded at International Agency for Res on Cancer · NIH-11142652 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Creates clear, evidence-based reviews that identify substances and exposures that can cause cancer to help patients, clinicians, and public health officials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | International Agency for Res on Cancer NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lyon, France) |
| Project start | September 1, 1985 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $990,253 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA033193-43 |
| Project ID | NIH-11142652 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People worried about chemical or workplace exposures, cancer patients curious about possible causes, and community members or advocates concerned about local environmental risks would find this most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking new treatments or direct clinical care are unlikely to get immediate personal benefit because the work focuses on identifying hazards rather than offering therapies.
What this research studies
It gathers and summarizes the best scientific studies about whether specific chemicals, physical agents, biological agents, and complex mixtures can cause cancer. Independent international experts review three streams of evidence: cancer in people, cancer in experimental animals, and lab-based mechanistic data. The process follows a modernized, transparent set of rules to weigh and combine those evidence streams. The resulting monographs are used globally to inform exposure limits, public health advice, and prevention efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work helps people and policymakers reduce harmful exposures and prevent cancer cases by identifying known and probable carcinogens.
How similar studies have gone: This long-running, widely respected program has produced many past classifications that have successfully informed regulations and public health guidance since 1971.
Where this research is happening
-
International Agency for Res on Cancer
Lyon, France Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schubauer-Berigan, Mary K. — International Agency for Res on Cancer
- Study coordinator: Schubauer-Berigan, Mary K.
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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.