Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research

The Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research is a joint program of the School of Public Health and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA. Since its inception in 1976, the Center has been nationally and internationally recognized for its pioneering work in cancer prevention and control research.

Mission

NCI-designated Cancer Centers are a major source of discovery of the nature of cancer and of the development of more effective approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapy. They also deliver medical advances to patients and their families, educate health-care professionals and the public and reach out to underserved populations. They are characterized by: strong organizational capabilities; institutional commitment; trans-disciplinary, cancer-focused science; experienced scientific and administrative leadership and state-of-the-art cancer research and patient care facilities.

Research, Projects & Programs

The center conducts rigorous peer-reviewed research in three major areas:

• The Healthy and At-Risk Populations Program focuses on the prevention and early detection aspects of the cancer control continuum. The program’s research portfolio encompasses a broad range of studies including investigations in tobacco control, nutrition, physical activity, breast, cervix, prostate and colorectal cancer screening, control of vaccine preventable cancers (liver, cervix), as well as expanding interests in economic and community level factors as predictors of cancer related outcomes. A central theme characterizing this program is a major emphasis on cancer disparities research, bringing cancer prevention and control to low-income, minority, and other socially and medically underserved populations locally, nationally, and internationally.
   
• The Patients and Survivors Program has as its major goal the reduction in avoidable morbidity and mortality among patients with cancer, long-term survivors of cancer. The two main scientific thrusts of the program are: Quality-of-life outcomes along the developmental phases of the life span continuum (e.g., children, young adult survivors, adult cancer patients and survivors, elderly cancer patients and survivors), including late medical and psychosocial effects; and Quality of cancer care, its measurement and evaluation. The program also houses the UCLA-LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center of Excellence and the UCLA Family Cancer Registry.
   
• The Molecular Epidemiology Program focuses on: (1) Primary prevention: examining environmental exposure (smoking, diet, infection, air pollution, etc.) and genetic susceptibility and cancer risk, as well as exploring gene-environmental interactions in cancer risk; (2) Secondary prevention: evaluating biological markers (somatic mutations and hyper-methylations of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes, gene copy numbers, etc.) for early detection, as well as intermediate markers as surrogate end-points for chemoprevention; and (3) Tertiary prevention: assessing blood and tissue-based biological markers (tumor markers, SNPs, etc.) for cancer prognosis and survival prediction.

The Center's cancer control research:

• Spans a continuum from primary prevention, screening and early detection to continuing care, rehabilitation and outcomes research.
   
• Links laboratory and clinical research to individuals, families and communities.
   
• Employs multiple research disciplines, including behavioral science, medicine, epidemiology and health services research.
   
• Has a substantial focus on reducing cancer-related morbidity and mortality, particularly among low-income, ethnic minority and other underserved groups.

Link to UCLA JCCC Research Program Areas