The Cancer Risk, Outcomes, and Prevention (CROP) Program is dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer through innovative research that spans the entire cancer continuum—from identifying risk factors and developing early detection strategies to improving outcomes and quality of life for cancer survivors and caregivers.
The mission of CROP is to discover and translate evidence-based approaches for cancer prevention, early detection, and survivorship care. By integrating diverse expertise across multiple disciplines, the program seeks to reduce cancer incidence, detect cancers at earlier, more treatable stages, and enhance the lives of those affected by cancer.
CROP research goals are to:
- Discover and characterize novel environmental, genomic, and biobehavioral factors that influence cancer risk and outcomes
- Discover and validate novel approaches for cancer screening and early detection to reduce cancer incidence and improve cancer outcomes
- Advance symptom science and develop novel interventions to improve survivorship, symptom management, and quality of life across diverse cancer populations
Research Themes
Cancer Risk Factor Discovery and Characterization
The focus of this research theme is to identify and understand the complex interplay of factors that contribute to cancer development and outcomes. Program research discovers dietary, exposure, reproductive, and lifestyle factors—including smoking, obesity, physical activity, and environmental exposures—associated with cancer risk and morbidity. This work encompasses epidemiological investigations of cancer etiology, molecular studies of how risk factors influence cellular pathways, and genomic analyses to identify genetic susceptibilities. CROP researchers examine the role of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and obesity in liver cancer development, investigate genetic and proteomic markers across diverse populations, and utilize large prospective cohort studies with decades of follow-up to understand long-term cancer risk. By characterizing these factors across diverse populations, CROP members work to identify high-risk groups and develop targeted prevention strategies that can reduce cancer incidence and improve outcomes.
Cancer Screening and Early Detection
Early detection of cancer can improve treatment outcomes and survival rates. This research theme focuses on developing, validating, and implementing novel approaches to cancer screening and early detection across multiple cancer types. Program research includes improving the implementation of existing screening modalities, developing and validating advanced radiologic technologies and epigenetic biomarkers for cancer detection, and identifying novel molecular markers to detect cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages. CROP members address disparities in cancer screening and treatment access, particularly in rural areas of the Hillman catchment area, where centralized cancer care creates barriers. The ultimate goal is to reduce cancer incidence through the detection of precancerous lesions and to improve cancer outcomes by diagnosing disease when it is most amenable to curative treatment.
Symptom Science and Survivorship
With advances in cancer treatment, the population of cancer survivors continues to grow, creating an urgent need to address the complex symptoms and quality-of-life challenges faced by those living with and beyond cancer, as well as their caregivers. This research theme focuses on understanding and mitigating the burden of cancer- and treatment-related symptoms across the survivorship trajectory. Program research includes: (a) characterization of disease- and treatment-related symptoms—including pain, fatigue, cognitive impairment, dysphagia, radiation-induced fibrosis, neck disability, and psychological distress—and their underlying biobehavioral mechanisms; (b) development and testing of personalized, technology-enabled interventions to prevent or reduce symptoms and improve self-management for both survivors and caregivers; and (c) implementation of evidence-based strategies to improve functional outcomes and quality of life in cancer survivors and their caregivers. CROP members employ innovative approaches, including digital health technologies, precision symptom management, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for prediction and prevention, and community-based participatory research to ensure that interventions are effective, accessible, and responsive to the needs of diverse cancer populations and their caregivers across the lifespan.
