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Tram K. Lam, PhD, MPH
Global Health Coordinator, Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program
lamt@mail.nih.gov
Overview
In 2020, the World Health Organization [PDF]
(WHO) reported there were 19.3 million new cancer cases and 10.0 million cancer deaths globally. The global cancer burden is projected to increase to 29.5 million new cases and 16.5 million deaths by 2040.
The reasons for this increase are multi-factorial and reflect aging and growth of global populations and socioeconomic development. In addition, many emerging economies are experiencing a transition from cancers associated with infectious agents to cancers associated with westernized lifestyles.
The Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program (EGRP) supports NCI's priorities in global health. The Program works with NCI's Center for Global Health and other partners to support research for cancer control and prevention globally.
Selected Projects
Examples of current collaborative projects related to cancer and global health in which EGRP staff are involved:
Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEOHealth) Hubs
Many environmental and occupational exposures exist at higher levels in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than in the United States and other high-income countries. Despite very high exposure to toxic, carcinogenic, and other environmental influences around the world, there are few institutions with a deep capacity to study exposures or their interactions with genetic, immune system, or population-based factors and their impact on health. In addition to being serious health concerns for host countries, the global scientific community has a pressing need to understand and study environmental and occupational health threats in LMICs where they are most acute.
The goals of the GEOHealth program are to strengthen environmental and occupational health-related research collaborations, accelerate scientific infrastructure development and enhance research training, create relevant advanced educational curricula, and support research needed to identify and design strategies for the reduction of consequences from environmental and occupational exposures. Subsequently, these activities will inform nationally-relevant policy development in LMICs.
GEOHealth Hubs are supported by two coordinated linked awards to 1) a LMIC institution for research and 2) a US institute to coordinate research training. Together they form the GEOHealth Network, a platform for coordinated environmental and occupational health research and research training activities.
EGRP provides support to GEOHealth Hubs in Peru and India. GEOHealth Peru and GEOHealth India focus on air pollution in relation to chronic disease.
More information about GEOHealth is available through the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health.
Global Health Funding & Training Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
NCI-sponsored notices of funding opportunities related to global health and epidemiology include:
- 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
EGRP joins with other NCI Divisions, Offices, and Centers and other Institutes and Centers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund grant applications submitted in response to notices of funding opportunities.
View All Cancer Control Funding Opportunities
EGRP also encourages investigator-initiated grant applications related to global health and cancer.
NCI's Center for Global Health (CGH) website includes information about funding opportunities for global research.
Training Opportunities
NCI's Center for Global Health (CGH) website includes information about training opportunities for global research.
Global Health Research Resources
For more information on global health at the NCI and NIH, go to: