Improving how we find causes and outcomes of cancer
Methodologic Innovations in Cancer Epidemiology
This project develops better ways to use long-term health and exposure records to learn which factors raise the chances of getting or dying from cancers such as breast and colorectal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262240 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of research that uses existing long-term health records and exposure information rather than a new drug or treatment. The team will combine models that predict who gets cancer with models that predict outcomes after diagnosis to learn what leads to lethal cancer. They will also create latency models to weigh past exposures at different times to see which timing matters most. Work is done with large cohorts and registry data, using advanced statistical methods to make better use of data gathered before and after diagnosis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults whose long-term health records or cohort data (including past exposures like aspirin use, alcohol, or BMI) are available through existing studies or registries, especially people at risk for or diagnosed with breast or colorectal cancer.
Not a fit: Patients without longitudinal health records, those with cancers not covered by participating cohorts, or people needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this methods-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these methods could improve how doctors identify people at highest risk of getting or dying from certain cancers and tailor prevention or follow-up more effectively.
How similar studies have performed: Related statistical approaches have been used before and shown promise, but this project extends those methods to combine incidence and prognosis models and to better handle exposure timing.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosner, Bernard a — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rosner, Bernard a
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.