Improving cancer screening and prevention for veterans by studying genetic and environmental factors
Official title: DEvelopment of cancer predictive models informed by geneTic and EnviRonMental exposures and their interactions to Improve caNcer screening and prEvention strategies (DETERMINE)
Funded at VA Boston Health Care System · NIH-11111957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how things like military service and environmental exposures, such as Agent Orange and smoking, can affect cancer risk in veterans, and it aims to find genetic markers that might make some veterans more susceptible to certain cancers like prostate, lung, and bladder cancer, so we can better predict risks and improve treatment for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Boston Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 1, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 1I01CX002945-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11111957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans who have been exposed to military-related environmental factors and are at risk for prostate, lung, or bladder cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to the specific environmental factors being studied or who do not have a history of the targeted cancers may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance cancer screening and treatment for veterans by examining how military and environmental exposures, such as Agent Orange and cigarette smoke, interact with genetic factors to influence cancer risk. The study will analyze specific cancers, including prostate, lung, and bladder cancer, to identify genetic markers that increase susceptibility to these exposures. By integrating data on environmental factors and genetic information, the researchers hope to develop precise risk prediction models tailored for the veteran population. This innovative approach seeks to characterize mutation patterns in cancer genomes linked to these exposures, ultimately improving clinical outcomes for veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate cancer risk assessments and tailored prevention strategies for veterans.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is novel in its comprehensive integration of genetic and environmental data specifically for the veteran population, although similar methodologies have shown promise in other cancer research contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Boston Health Care System
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pyarajan, Saiju — VA Boston Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Pyarajan, Saiju
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.