# Screening, Prevention, Etiology, and Cancer Survivorship

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2024 · $34,260

## Abstract

Screening, Prevention, Etiology, and Cancer Survivorship Program Summary
The Screening, Prevention, Etiology, and Cancer Survivorship (SPECS) Program advances research across
the broad spectrum of cancer control, including etiology, prevention, early detection, treatment, and
survivorship. SPECS research coalesces around 4 research themes: 1) Reducing the harms of tobacco, 2)
Preventing cancer through screening and intervention, 3) Improving cancer outcomes, and 4) Childhood
cancer epidemiology. SPECS members are focused on unique cancer concerns in our catchment area,
including cancer disparities in special populations and elevated rates of melanoma and hematologic cancers.
The impact of the Program is evident with research findings leading to changes in policy around commercial
tobacco products and national guidelines for cancer screening. Three Specific Aims support the research
themes of the SPECS Program: 1) Prevent cancer through identification of risk and protection factors and
develop novel approaches to reduce these risks, 2) Improve cancer outcomes with tailored screening and
novel interventions in high-risk populations, and 3) Identify factors that impact prognosis and quality of life
among cancer survivors. The SPECS Program includes 50 members, representing 6 schools and 20
departments, and has 2 Co-Leaders: Anne Blaes, MD, MS, a Professor and Division Director of Hematology,
Oncology, and Transplantation in the Medical School; and Heather Nelson, MPH, PhD, a Professor in the
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health in the School of Public Health. For the last budget year, these
members were supported by $10.5 million in cancer-relevant research funding (direct costs), of which $4.8
million is from the National Cancer Institute.
The Masonic Cancer Center (MCC) has supported the work of the Program in several value-added ways. The
Analytical Biochemistry Shared Resource facilitates biomarker work, and the Biostatistics and Cancer
Informatics Shared Resources support the design of studies and analysis of data. Community Outreach and
Engagement has provided data on cancer research needs within our catchment area and provided guidance to
members on conducting community-engaged research. In addition, MCC has provided strategic investment
through pilot project funding. The Program, in turn, brings added value to MCC by bringing clinical and
population-based perspectives with a focus of translating research to practice and policy and addressing health
equity and cancer concerns in our catchment area. Mentoring and training are a priority for the Program, with a
strong track record of early-career investigators developing independent research programs.
Future directions for the SPECS Program include 2 new initiatives, one around aging and cancer and a second
on environmental exposures and cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10768149
- **Project number:** 2P30CA077598-26
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** HEATHER Hammond NELSON
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $34,260
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1998-06-01 → 2029-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10768149

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10768149, Screening, Prevention, Etiology, and Cancer Survivorship (2P30CA077598-26). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10768149. Licensed CC0.

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