# Theory and methods for mediation and interaction

> **NIH NIH R01** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · 2022 · $438,224

## Abstract

Project Summary
The proposed research will develop novel methods to assess mediation and interaction between genetic and
environmental exposures and different disease subtypes so as to better tailor treatments and prevention efforts
to individuals' characteristics and so as to better understand the mechanisms governing disease. Methods will
be developed for settings in which there are multiple disease subtypes and these disease subtypes may have
different prognosis for survival and may be more amenable to different types of treatment and preventive
efforts. Methodology for assessing the role of interaction in understanding mechanisms will also be developed.
This will include elucidating the role of gene-environment interaction in the heritability of disease,
understanding mediating pathways from exposure to disease in the presence of interaction, and identifying
sufficient cause interaction for diseases or disease subtypes such that an outcome would occur if two (or more)
exposures are present, but not if only one or the other were present. The methodology will be applied to
understand prognosis, treatment decisions, preventive interventions, and mechanisms for colorectal cancer,
and also for the development of skin lesions; the methodology will also be applied to understand the role of
gene-environment interaction in the heritability of numerous traits.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10328927
- **Project number:** 5R01CA222147-05
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Eric Joel Tchetgen Tchetgen
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $438,224
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-02-19 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10328927

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10328927, Theory and methods for mediation and interaction (5R01CA222147-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10328927. Licensed CC0.

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