IARC guide to cancer-causing agents

IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans

NIH-funded research International Agency for Res on Cancer · NIH-11142652

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionInternational Agency for Res on Cancer NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Lyon, France)
Project IDNIH-11142652 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: 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.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

Lyon, France

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cancer Causing AgentsCancer ControlCancer Control ScienceCancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.