# The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Bioethics Research Initiative

> **NIH NIH P30** · DANA-FARBER CANCER INST · 2022 · $178,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Rapid advances in oncology research, care delivery and policy have generated new ethical dilemmas for
patients, clinicians, scientists, and society. Paradigmatic examples include the biases, interpretability, and
professional responsibilities surrounding oncologic applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and conflicts
between providing optimal cancer care for individuals when that same care induces climate change and
increases global mortality. Recognizing this need, we recently established the Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer
Center (DF/HCC) Forum for Oncology Bioethics Research. This group of bioethics-trained physician scientists
meets monthly to discuss bioethics research proposals, analyses, grants, and potential collaborations. While
this forum has led to nascent collaborations and several grant proposals and manuscripts, a formalized
initiative with outside guidance and long-term strategic planning is required to effectively direct research on the
ethical dilemmas oncology faces. Our objective is to develop this infrastructure through the DF/HCC,
leveraging the input of internal and external stakeholders to construct strategic and operating plans, and
performing a pilot process initiative through two data-generating projects on artificial intelligence and
environmental oncology. In Aim 1, we propose to develop strategic and operating plans for a formal cancer
bioethics research initiative. Drawing on an adapted Kaplan-Norton strategy management paradigm for
research programs, we will solicit input from internal and external stakeholders to prioritize bioethics research
topics, identify existing human, technologic, and organizational capacities, and develop metrics for individual
project and overall initiative success. In Aim 2, we will assess the intersection of cancer care with AI and
climate change with two research projects that will generate preliminary data for future projects while acting as
a pilot process initiative for strategic and operating plan development. The first pilot will characterize oncologist
perceptions of the ethical implications of AI for cancer care delivery in a cross-sectional national survey of
practicing oncologists (N=684) that will assess familiarity with and prior training in AI as well as views on
benefits, potential for bias, associated risks, related professional responsibilities, and impact on oncology
practice. The second pilot will evaluate environmental and equity implications of tele-oncology. Using data from
1.25 million DF/HCC patient visits, we will characterize factors associated with access to tele-oncology and
potential mortality benefits associated with emissions reduction during policy scenarios with differing levels of
tele-oncology use. Completion of the proposed work will result in a research initiative strategically focused on
major emerging bioethics issues that oncology patients, clinicians, and research scientists face. Moreover, the
preliminary data generated by the two ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10591995
- **Project number:** 3P30CA006516-57S2
- **Recipient organization:** DANA-FARBER CANCER INST
- **Principal Investigator:** LAURIE Hollis GLIMCHER
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $178,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1997-03-10 → 2026-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10591995

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10591995, The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Bioethics Research Initiative (3P30CA006516-57S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10591995. Licensed CC0.

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