Interdisciplinary Genetic Epidemiology (Past Initiative)
Background on Interdisciplinary Studies in the
Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer
During the last decade, the identification of human genes conferring
susceptibility for complex diseases, and the application of increasingly
sophisticated molecular technologies to the study of human genetics have
provided new ways to analyze the human genome and to look at the relationship
between phenotype and genotype in cancer and other complex diseases.
Also, traditional statistical methods used in genetics are yielding to
new methodologies developed to encompass both genetic and epidemiologic
risk factors. Investigators in the genetic epidemiology of cancer can
now attempt to incorporate developments in molecular genetics into population
studies, and greatly increase insights into the genetic and environmental
determinants of this disease.
In 1998, the Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP), DCCPS,
NCI, in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging (NIA) issued
a Request for Applications (RFA) to soliciting cooperative agreement applications
for collaborative and interdisciplinary genetic epidemiology investigations
designed to identify and evaluate the interactions of genetic and epidemiologic
risk factors leading to cancer susceptibility in individuals, families
and populations, and factors influencing the rate of increase with age
in cancer susceptibility. This RFA (RFA CA-98-018) was the re-issuance
of a previous NCI-funded initiative (RFA CA-93-020).
Research supported under the prior initiative has provided a fundamental
contribution to the identification and characterization of breast, colon,
and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes, and to the understanding of the
interaction of these genes with known epidemiologic risk factors.
The overall purpose of the current RFA is to support multi-site, interdisciplinary
studies of the complex interaction between genetic and other endogenous
as well as exogenous risk factors in the etiology of cancer, with special
consideration given to population-based research on the unique aspects
of cancer susceptibility genes (especially low relative risk, high attributable
risk because of wide distribution in the population under study).
The goals of this initiative reflect the areas of priority identified
by the NCI Bypass Budgets for FY
2000 and FY 2001 .
- identify genes that increase or decrease cancer susceptibility and
the environmental factors that modify such suceptibility, using cutting-edge
technology and analytical strategies and disciplinary integration;
- uncover the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions determining
cancer susceptibility; and
- apply the newly gained knowledge to the development of new approaches
to cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.
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