Understanding how area factors, smoking, and biology influence lung cancer risk across groups
Official title: Understanding the role of area-level factors, smoking, and epigenetics in lung cancer risk across populations groups
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11392389 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at why lung cancer risk differs among racial groups by studying area-level factors, smoking, and biology to better protect adults in diverse communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $584,681 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262540-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392389 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ from African American and Native Hawaiian groups (and comparison groups) who are or could be part of the studied cohorts and living in areas with varying housing, poverty, and healthcare access.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not represented in the studied populations or areas may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will use data from the Multiethnic Cohort and Southern Community Cohort to examine how neighborhood conditions, such as housing and access to care, interact with smoking and genetic/biological markers to influence lung cancer risk. The project focuses on adults 21 and older, particularly African American and Native Hawaiian populations, over many years of follow-up. By combining epidemiology with biomarkers and genetics, the study aims to uncover factors beyond smoking that contribute to disparities. The findings could inform targeted prevention and screening strategies for high-risk groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more tailored lung cancer prevention and early detection efforts for underserved populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked biology and smoking to lung cancer risk, but this study emphasizes area-level factors and large, diverse cohorts to address disparities.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Iona C — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Iona C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Blood-based markers to identify lung cancer risk in never-smokers
A researchers team at NYU School of Medicine is testing blood tests that might flag higher lung cancer risk in people who have never smoked, helping decide who might need screening.
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Integrated approach to lung screening and quitting for African Americans
A multi-level program aims to boost LDCT lung cancer screening uptake and help African American smokers quit, with support from a comprehensive community-focused plan.
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Understanding why lung cancer risk from smoking differs among populations
This grant looks at why people from different groups have different lung cancer risks from cigarette smoking and what genetic and biochemistry clues explain those differences.
-
Personalized lung cancer risk tool to boost screening and help people quit smoking
This project uses a personalized risk profile to help current and former smokers—particularly underserved and African American patients—get lung cancer screening and stop smoking.
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Lung cancer risk created by genes and environment across diverse populations
A multi-ethnic study aims to understand how genetic and environmental factors together influence lung cancer risk and prevention.
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Why smoking raises lung cancer risk differently across racial and ethnic groups
This project looks for genetic, biochemical, and epigenetic reasons why cigarette smoking leads to different lung cancer risks in people from several racial and ethnic groups.
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.