Program Leader: Raymond Bergan, MD
Program Co-Leader: Bonnie Spring, PhD

The Cancer Prevention Program of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center is a multi-disciplinary program focusing on four thematic areas: epidemiology, early detection, chemoprevention, and behavioral science. The Program Leader is Raymond Bergan, MD, an accomplished molecular pharmacologist whose research focuses on cancer chemopreventive agents, and the Program Co-Leader is Bonnie Spring, PhD, a distinguished psychologist who studies behavioral risk factors. The objective of the Cancer Prevention Program, which is comprised of 30 faculty members from 10 departments and three schools is to facilitate and focus research on primary and secondary cancer prevention within the Cancer Center. Between 1/1/2001 and 9/15/2006, there were 369 cancer-relevant publications from the Cancer Prevention Program members. Forty-three (11.6%) of these publications represent intra-programmatic collaborations and 74 (20.0%) of these publications represent inter-programmatic collaborations. Total current cancer relevant peer reviewed funding for the Cancer Prevention Program is $6,177,072 (direct) with $3,215,306 (direct) from NCI, and $2,961,766 (direct) from other peer reviewed sources. Specific areas of research include: molecular epidemiological methods to investigate cancer risk factors, development and characterization of new biomarkers and other state-of-the-art technologies for early detection, development of new chemopreventive agents particularly targeting breast, prostate, skin and colorectal cancer, and development of evidence based approaches for modification of high risk behaviors. The contribution of prevention efforts to recent declines in cancer mortality, the demonstrated success of cancer chemopreventive agents, and evidence indicating that the large majority of cancers are caused by environmental factors (many of which are linked to behavior), coupled with the inherent humanitarian and economic logic of preventing cancer, all support the importance of this work. This Program actively seeks to expand the capabilities and efficacy of cancer prevention by developing and employing cutting edge technology, measurement tools and methods, and drug- and behavior-based interventional strategies. Program members' interests and capabilities span many disciplines. Their integrated focus upon cancer prevention fosters an environment of intra- and inter-program collaboration.

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