Understanding why lung cancer risk from smoking differs among populations
Official title: Mechanisms Underlying Population Differences in Lung Cancer Due to Cigarette Smoking
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11411158 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2009 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,058,139 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA138338-15 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411158 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with a history of smoking, including former smokers, from diverse population groups.
✕Less likely to help
Current or never-smokers without a history of smoking-related risk factors may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
A large, multi-project effort at the University of Minnesota studies how smoking leads to lung cancer through genetic, epigenetic, and biochemical pathways. It builds on prior findings about DNA damage from tobacco-related chemicals and how nicotine metabolism influences risk. The work includes analyzing biomarkers, genetic scores, and population differences to identify risk markers in former smokers and to understand nicotine processing in diverse groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better personalized risk assessment and prevention strategies for people who smoke or have quit, tailored to their genetic and ethnic background.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown meaningful links between tobacco carcinogens, DNA damage, and population-specific cancer risk, supporting continued exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hecht, Stephen S — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Hecht, Stephen S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Investigating how menthol cigarette smoking affects blood metabolites and lung cancer risk
This study is looking at how smoking menthol cigarettes might affect the risk of lung cancer, especially in African Americans, by analyzing blood samples to find out what changes in the body could be linked to this type of smoking and cancer.
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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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Multi-omic insights into alcohol use disorder with and without smoking
A scientist team will study how DNA methylation and RNA patterns in brain tissue differ in people with alcohol use disorder, comparing those who smoke to those who don’t, to understand biology and potential drug targets.
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Harm-reduction sampling to help people not ready to quit smoking
A practical approach tests whether giving people who aren’t ready to quit access to harm-reduction smoking aids can help them move toward quitting.
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.