# Developing Data-Driven Cancer Researchers

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $310,641

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT
Despite decades of research effort directed towards understanding the basic biology, etiology, prevention, and
means of treatment of malignancy, cancer remains one of the most serious health problems for the US
population with almost 2 million new cases of cancer diagnosed annually and over 600,000 persons dying as a
consequence. Addressing the burden of cancer in the US and worldwide depends on development of a cadre
of population-oriented quantitative scientists with skills and knowledge to excel in an increasingly data-rich
world. The explosion of biomedical big data has dramatically and irrevocably changed the landscape of cancer
research. From molecular investigations studying genomic drivers of cancer to population studies tracking
health behaviors and utilization, new data resources are creating unprecedented opportunities to solve the
many unanswered questions about cancer. Optimizing the use of these resources and many other complex
data—from ‘omics to administrative databases—will require, in addition to the standard “tools of the trade”
garnered through training in the traditional quantitative disciplines of epidemiology and biostatistics, a deep
understanding of different types of data and how they are generated, proficiency in data management and
visualization, and knowledge of statistical and machine learning approaches for data analytics. To prepare
junior scientists to address the cancer research needs of a data-rich 21st century, we propose to continue our
four and one-half decade old training program for University of Washington (UW) pre-doctoral students and
post-doctoral fellows by focusing on “Developing Data-Driven Cancer Researchers.” Six predoctoral and
two postdoctoral positions will be filled from established, highly-ranked academic programs in the UW
Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Health Systems and Population Health as well as
interdisciplinary programs such as Nutritional Sciences, Public Health Genetics, and Comparative Health
Outcomes, Policy, and Economics. Through interdisciplinary didactic and practical experiences, trainees will
learn to approach decisions about cancer research strategies from the perspective of the strengths,
weaknesses, value, and key analytic features of different types of big data e.g., ‘omics, clinical, survey, social
network, and personal wearable technology-derived health metrics. Features of the training program will
include: 1) existing UW courses (such as “Cancer: Epidemiology and Biology,” “Biological Basis of Neoplasia,”
“Advanced Health Services Research Methods I: Large Public Databases: Big Data,” “Machine Learning for
Biomedical and Public Health Big Data”); 2) an interactive “The Data of Cancer Research” seminar focused on
the generation of cancer data; and 3) completion of a “Big Data practicum” research exercise that build
proficiency in working with cancer data. Thus, the proposed training program will meld extant educational
element...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10846981
- **Project number:** 2T32CA009168-46A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** STEPHEN M SCHWARTZ
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $310,641
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1980-07-01 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10846981

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10846981, Developing Data-Driven Cancer Researchers (2T32CA009168-46A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10846981. Licensed CC0.

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