Cancer Prevention/Control

The goal of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program (CPCP) is to sustain and expand a nationally recognized program of innovative research to new venues and populations. The Program will do this by creating, then disseminating, evidence-based best practices to populations to reduce cancer risk, incidence, morbidity and mortality.

Research within the Program is organized around several areas of excellence:

• cancer communication
• survivorship
• health promotion
• primary and secondary prevention across the lifespan, and
• dissemination research.

Program researchers also are known for their innovative health communication programs, many of which use new technologies (such as the Internet and computer-tailored interventions) to deliver state-of-the-art programs to a wide range of populations and for a number of different topic areas. A particular CPCP hallmark has been the ability to recruit and retain minority, rural and underserved populations in cancer prevention and control studies, and to design interventions that are culturally appropriate and efficacious for these populations.

Highlights of research by Program investigators include:

• research on cancer communication and tailored health messages (Campbell, Rimer, DeVellis)
• preventing tobacco initiation in youth (Jackson, Ennett, Ribisl), and
• innovative cancer survivorship research (Mishel, Baucom, Rimer, Campbell).

The Program adds value to the Center by fostering integrative activities, providing core resources (CHAI, Dissemination), promoting recruitment of faculty and students, and promoting research collaborations.

Dr. Marci Kramish Campbell, Associate Professor of Nutrition in the UNC School of Public Health, leads the Program. Dr. Campbell is a nationally recognized investigator in cancer communication and health promotion research. In 2003, the Program had 27 members. Program direct cost funding in 2003 was $12.5, including $3.1 in all NCI funding. In 2002, the total number of publications was 106; 14% of the publications were intraprogrammatic and 8% were interprogrammatic. Future plans for the Program include a focus on diet, weight, and physical activity, increased cross-program collaborations, and increased core resources and space.