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Danielle M. Carrick, PhD, MHS
Program Director, Genomic Epidemiology Branch
Biospecimen Research, Immunology and Inflammation Related to Cancer Risk
carrick@mail.nih.gov
Rao L . Divi, PhD
Program Director, Methods and Technologies Branch,
Technologies for low-resource settings
divir@mail.nih.gov
Tram Kim Lam, PhD, MPH
Program Director, Environmental Epidemiology Branch
Environmental Exposures, Health Disparities, Understudied Populations, Infection-related Cancers
lamt@mail.nih.gov
Vaurice L. Starks, BS
Program Director, Environmental Epidemiology Branch
HIV-related Malignancies Studies, HPV Infection and Associated Cancers, Virally-mediated Carcinogenesis
starksv@mail.nih.gov
Mukesh Verma, PhD
Program Director, Methods and Technologies Branch
Biomarkers, Epigenetics, Risk Assessments
vermam@mail.nih.gov
Overview
Based on the most recent data from GLOBOCAN, an estimated 2.2 million infection-attributable cancer cases were diagnosed in 2018. Additionally, there is some evidence suggesting that multiple infections (e.g., co-infection) may also play a significant role in cancer initiation, development, and progression. Our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of cancer induction by infectious agents (either independently or together), interactions between the environment and host genetics, and potential roles of cofactors (known and unknown) is limited and warrants further elucidation. Moreover, technological advances have led to the discovery of previously unknown and unsuspected oncogenic infections in recent years, prompting the idea that additional infection-associated cancers might still be discovered.
Epidemiologic studies could play important roles in answering both old and new questions, which could augment current knowledge and open new areas of research in infectious agents and cancer. Understanding the role of infection in cancer may result in discoveries that lead to better diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancers, particularly in countries with limited resources.
Figure: An infographic of 2018 Global Infection-Related Data. For infections that attributed to cancer incidence, 90% of those were H. pylori, hepatitis B and C viruses, and human papillomaviruses. 2.2 million (12.2%) of new cancer cases were attributable to infections wordwide in 2018. Infection-attributable age-standardized incidence rates of 25.0 cases per 100,000 person years. In 2018, Helicobacter pylori is the most significant cause of cancer worldwide. Source: de Martel C, Georges D, Bray F, Ferlay J, Clifford GM (2020). Global burden of cancer attributable to infections in 2018: a worldwide incidence analysis. Lancet Glob Health. (free full text available) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214109X19304887?via%3Dihub.
Funding Opportunities
NCI-sponsored notices of funding opportunities related to infectious diseases and risk of cancer include:
- Epidemiologic Research on Emerging Risk Factors and Liver Cancer Susceptibility - expires May 8, 2025
- PAR-22-084 (R21)
- PAR-22-083 (R01)
- Co-infection and Cancer - expires November 17, 2025, unless reissued
- PAR-23-056 (R21)
- PAR-23-055 (R01)
- HIV-associated Non-Communicable Diseases Research at Low- and Middle-Income Country Institutions (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) – expires December 09, 2025
- Interventions for Stigma Reduction to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment, and Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (R01, Clinical Trial Optional) – expires December 23, 2025
- Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research on HIV-associated Malignancies – expires September 08, 2026
EGRP encourages investigator-initiated grant applications on infectious agents and cancer. It also joins with other NCI Divisions, and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund grant applications submitted in response to notices of funding opportunities. View the full list of EGRP funding opportunities.
The NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) also contains information about research funding opportunities related to infectious agents.
NIH has also partnered with the International AIDS Society and the NIH-funded Centers for AIDS Research to support innovative research projects to introduce scientists from other disciplines to the field of HIV research.
Research Resources
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Research Resources
A compilation of scientific literature, laboratory and clinical research support and tools, and training opportunities. - NIH Common Fund Human Microbiome Project
Provides links to research resources enabling comprehensive characterization of the human microbiota and analysis of their role in human health and disease.
Public Resources
- NCI Fact Sheets
- Strategic Plan for Trans-NIH Research to Cure Hepatitis B
- National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief (April 2017): Prevalence of HPV in Adults Aged 18-69 in the U.S. [PDF]
- World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory
Links to reports containing statistics for key health indicators on an annual basis