# Program for Training in Cancer Epidemiology

> **NIH NIH T32** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · 2020 · $584,830

## Abstract

7. Project Summary
We propose to renew the NCI Cancer Epidemiology Training Program. We propose to continue to
support 12 trainees per year, but have adjusted the proportions to meet NCI recommendations, and
propose three pre-doctoral students and nine postdoctoral fellows. We leverage the enormously rich
academic environment of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, together with the Dana-
Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Channing Division of Network Medicine and a multitude of affiliated
institutions. These resources include the Harvard cohorts (Nurses’ Health Studies I,II, and III, Health
Professionals Follow-up Study, Physicians’ Health Study, Women’s Health Study, the VITAL trial,and
others). These cohorts have millions of person-years of repeated follow-up for all cancer sites, as well
as blood and tissue samples from over 100,000 individuals. The opportunities for cancer research
within this environment are virtually limitless. We have brought together outstanding faculty mentors
to provide integrated interdisciplinary experiences and collaborative interactions, a specialized
curriculum with core and elective coursework, nondidactic practical career training, individual
candidate training plans, and ongoing Program evaluation. Cutting-edge didactic training and
mentoring will create a new generation of highly skilled and enthusiastic investigators to study factors
that influence cancer incidence and survival. A major focus is to take advantage of the multitude of
modern ‘omics methods, such as genomics, metabolomics, together with the array of biologic samples,
including blood, oral swabs and stool for microbiome, and tumor tissue. The multidisciplinary training will
include applying modern epidemiologic and biostatistical methods to analyze such data, and develop
novel approaches for cancer research. This training program is currently in year 42; we have constantly
updated the program, taking advantage of approaches that work well, initiating new aspects, and taking
advantage of new opportunities, and revise our mentor group accordingly. One constant feature is that
we have never had a shortage of outstanding candidates for the program. With continued support, we
believe this training program will continue to have a major impact to further the mission of NCI to reduce
the burden of cancer through prevention and improved survival.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9928360
- **Project number:** 5T32CA009001-45
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** A. Heather Eliassen
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $584,830
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9928360

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9928360, Program for Training in Cancer Epidemiology (5T32CA009001-45). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9928360. Licensed CC0.

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