Tracking causes of cancer in Black women over time
A Follow-up Study for Causes of Cancer in Black Women
This long-term project follows Black women to learn which lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors raise cancer risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172586 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would be part of a large group of Black women who answer health and lifestyle questions every two years by mail or online. Many participants have also given saliva or blood samples, and tumor tissue has been collected for some cancer cases. Researchers combine questionnaire answers, biospecimens, and area-level data to look for patterns that link exposures, genes, and neighborhood factors to cancer and other chronic diseases. The work aims to spot drivers of risk so future care and prevention can be more targeted.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adult Black women in the United States who can complete periodic questionnaires and are willing to provide or already have provided saliva, blood, or tumor samples are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not Black women or who cannot or will not take part in follow-up questionnaires or biospecimen collection are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to specific risk factors that help prevent cancers or guide earlier detection and tailored care for Black women.
How similar studies have performed: Other long-term cohort studies using questionnaires and biospecimens (for example, the Nurses' Health Study) have produced widely used findings, and this project applies a similar, well-established approach focused on Black women.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Palmer, Julie R — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Palmer, Julie R
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.