# Population Sciences in the Pacific

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA · 2020 · $81,718

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Population Science in the Pacific (PSP) is a population research program in UHCC, with an emphasis on
cancer epidemiology and cancer prevention. The mission of PSP is to conduct cancer research in the populations
of Hawai‘i and the Pacific to identify host, lifestyle and behavioral factors associated with cancer risk and
outcome, and to use this knowledge to develop intervention for cancer prevention and improvement of patient
survival. The Program has 28 full members and 12 associate members. The majority of members are located
in UHCC and several UH professional schools, with a few from research institutions in the Pacific. Currently,
PSP research is supported by $6.82M of peer-reviewed extramural funding (direct cost), including $4.7M from
PSP members based at UHCC. Over the past 5 years, PSP members published 788 cancer-related research
articles, and 40% of the publications were based on the studies through intra-programmatic collaboration while
11% were inter-programmatic. Inter-institution collaboration was 90%. To achieve the Program goal, PSP
members conduct cancer research under three interconnected themes. Theme 1 is to understand what lifestyle;
behavioral and environmental factors are associated with cancer risk. Theme 2 is to investigate genetic
susceptibility and gene-environmental interaction in cancer and identify biomarkers involved in cancer initiation
and progression. Theme 3 is to develop lifestyle and behavioral interventions to reduce cancer risk and to
improve patient survival. These research themes build on our overarching hypothesis that cancer is a complex
disease caused by the combination of many exogenous and endogenous factors coming from our environment,
genetics, lifestyles and behaviors. These factors differ substantially by race and ethnicity, and may explain most
of the racial/ethnic differences in cancer incidence and mortality. Many ethnic minorities reside in Hawai‘i and
the Pacific with distinct lifestyle and culture. This provides a unique opportunity to study race-specific cancer
etiology in these populations and develop ethnicity-tailored intervention to address their cancer burden and
health disparity. Over the years, we have investigated cancer risk and outcome in relation to ethnicity-specific
lifestyles, including diet, nutrient intake, dietary pattern, physical activity, obesity, tobacco smoking, substance
use, and social and behavioral attributes. We have conducted many large consortial studies to investigate
genetic susceptibility and gene-environment interaction in cancer. We have also developed several Hawai‘i-
specific or ethnicity-tailored intervention programs to reduce cancer risk or prolong patient survival. Our efforts
on community outreach and information dissemination are also relentless with specific targets and goals. In the
next period of CCSG support, we will continue to conduct cutting-edge research under the 3 themes, expand
our research to new emerging areas such as e-ciga...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9968055
- **Project number:** 5P30CA071789-20
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA
- **Principal Investigator:** HERBERT YU
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $81,718
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9968055

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9968055, Population Sciences in the Pacific (5P30CA071789-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9968055. Licensed CC0.

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