Cancer Prevention and Control Program

Program Co-Leaders

Lisa Carter-Bawa, PhD, APRN, ANP-C, FAAN

Laura Rozek, PhD

Kenneth Tercyak, PhD

Program Overview

The Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) Program is the nexus for population sciences-focused research at Georgetown Lombardi. Its mission is to conduct innovative and impactful population sciences research across the translational continuum, from discovery to intervention to policy, to help alleviate the burden of cancer. A unique aspect of the CPC Program is its capacity to rapidly translate findings through the phases of this continuum within and across each of the Program’s scientific aims.

CPC appoints both full and associate members who address the cancer prevention-control needs of our catchment area through research focused on cancer risk factors and biomarkers, primary and secondary cancer prevention, and outcomes of cancer treatment and survivorship. Research in the catchment area is facilitated through community-based research sites, including the Capital Breast Care Center and the community-based Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities located in Southeast Washington, DC. CPC is also leading the cancer center’s newly established institute focused on cancer and aging research and the development of the Office for Global Health.

CPC Program members focus on three specific aims:

• Aim 1: Cancer risk factors and biomarkers. We investigate genomic, biologic and other risks associated with cancer occurrence and early detection.
• Aim 2: Primary and secondary cancer prevention. We develop and implement cancer prevention interventions and cancer screening to inform practices and policies that reduce cancer burdens.
• Aim 3: Outcomes of cancer treatment and survivorship. We conduct clinical, translational and policy-relevant research on ways to treat cancer and promote improved survivorship.

In addition, cross-cutting themes of genetic/genomic underpinnings of cancer risk and response (in collaboration with the Fisher Center) and cancer burdens and disparities are integrated within each of the aims.

The CPC Program is also home to an FDA-funded center for tobacco research, is an active contributor to many cancer center-wide initiatives, including cancer survivorship, and provides leadership to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) and Cancer Survivorship programs. Our educational efforts take place across Georgetown University, including the Master’s in Epidemiology and Tumor Biology graduate training programs. Additionally, the program organizes postdoctoral fellowship training in cancer control and prevention science, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute through an institutional T32 training grant.

Promoting Science and Research Collaboration

To help support programmatic science in all aspects of cancer control and prevention, CPC offers members several mechanisms that promote collaboration within and across the cancer center. This includes Idea Lab for brainstorming about early stage research concepts, Research Strategy Sessions for work-in-progress on ongoing studies and planned future directions, and Mock Study Section for peer review of extramural grant/contract applications prior to agency submission. Please contact the program’s leadership if interested in a hosted meeting. The program’s leadership is also instrumental in convening research affinity groups around focal and emerging areas of cancer population sciences, including cancer care delivery research, translational genomics, and in studying the burdens of cancer among older adults and long-term cancer survivors.

A reminder that all human subjects research protocols by CPC’s program members should be submitted to the CPC Discipline Group. Please use this link to initiate your submission; additional information can be found in the accompanying presentation.

For program members based at GU, please see important information about submitting joint IRB protocols for human subjects research across the consortium.

Full Members

Affiliate Members