# Rapid Case Ascertainment

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $100,835

## Abstract

ABSTRACT-Rapid Case Ascertainment (RCA) Shared Resource 
Rapid Case Ascertainment (RCA) is a unique population science shared resource that provides central support 
for population-based research by providing rapid ascertainment of cancer cases that occur across North 
Carolina. Rapid case ascertainment (identification within one month after diagnosis) is critical to the successful 
conduct of quality, population-based, epidemiologic and outcomes studies, including studies that incorporate 
molecular biology, biomarkers, and patient-reported outcomes. Since it started in 1993, RCA supported 
multiple large population science research studies of breast, colon, prostate, head and neck cancers and 
melanoma. These included case-control etiologic studies and outcomes-related studies of bladder and prostate 
cancer. Built on decades of close collaboration with the State of North Carolina’s Central Cancer Registry 
(CCR) RCA facilitates efficient and centralized case identification. Because of its long-standing collaborative 
relationship with hospitals in North Carolina, RCA also works with LCCC members to collect baseline and 
follow-up medical records for enrolled patients. Finally, RCA provides consultation and administrative 
assistance to researchers through the coordination of grant applications, IRB approvals, reports to hospitals 
and tumor registrars, database development, and activities among project investigators, the State of North 
Carolina’s CCR, and related state committees. The RCA shared resource provides centralized coordination 
ascertainment, especially for hospitals in rural and underserved counties in the Center’s catchment area (all of 
North Carolina). Case-finding takes place for multiple studies across hospitals, providing a high degree of 
efficiency and cost effectiveness for the studies. In 2014, the facility was used to identify 16,366 new cases of 
breast, meningioma, prostate, cervical, colorectal, ovarian and medullary thyroid cancer cases across all 100 
counties in North Carolina. A unique and valuable resource, RCA collaborated with other NCI Cancer Centers 
by supporting NC population research with other cancer centers in NC and outside the state. UNC Lineberger 
investigators continue to expand their efforts in population-based studies that rely on rapid case ascertainment. 
The RCA shared resource requests $73,090 in CCSG funds, representing 21% of its total budget. Future plans 
include the implementation of new NC population-based epidemiologic, clinical, and health services studies 
and working with the CCR to obtain additional follow-up on the occurrence of second primary tumors and the 
timely assessment of vital status of cases enrolled in epidemiologic and other population studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9834865
- **Project number:** 5P30CA016086-44
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** ANDREW OLSHAN
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $100,835
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9834865

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9834865, Rapid Case Ascertainment (5P30CA016086-44). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9834865. Licensed CC0.

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