Cancer Control and Survivorship
Overview
The Cancer Control and Survivorship (CCS) research program has more than 50 members spanning the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, the David Geffen School of Medicine, the UCLA School of Nursing and College of Letters and Sciences. The CCS research program has the breadth and depth of expertise to tackle existing and emerging cancer control problems, from genomics and epigenetics, to machine learning, smarter cancer screening strategies, and quality improvement and implementation science—to apply to all populations and to guide cancer care delivery from primary prevention through end-of-life settings.
To accomplish its specific aims, the CCS research program draws on a cadre of experienced investigators who are leading world class programs that span the cancer control continuum. With critical expertise in epigenetics, genomics, screening, cancer screening and early detection, quality of care (diagnostics and care delivery), survivorship and palliative care, CCS members are making important contributions to how cancer is prevented, diagnosed, and managed, with innovations in methodology and a focus on implementation in real world settings. CCS members have a long history of nurturing new scientists, and to this end, has successfully engaged new faculty members in the research program. To the extent possible, the CCS members focus on translating what is learned from their research, and what they know is effective, into the community and the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center's catchment area.
Specific Aims
The primary objective of the CCS research program is to reduce the avoidable cancer burden at the population level by conducting transdisciplinary research that impacts cancer risk, early detection, and health outcomes among cancer patients and survivors. The specific aims of the research program are:
- To identify risk and protective factors for cancer and test effective strategies for reducing cancer risk in the population
- To study and promote early detection of cancer and to increase uptake of cancer screening at the population level
- To study ways to reduce avoidable morbidity and mortality among patients with cancer and long- term survivors of cancer
Meetings and Seminars
- Workshops, symposia and seminars in collaboration with the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
- Participation in the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center seminar series that features invited outside and local faculty
- Postdoctoral fellows' journal club
- Research-in-progress meetings with fellows
- Focused retreats on interdisciplinary and translational topics with other cancer center programs
Leadership
Director Beth Glenn is Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Health Policy and Management in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and Associate Director of the UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity. She also serves as the co-director of Community Outreach and Engagement for the Cancer Center. The focus of her work for over two decades has been on conducting scientifically rigorous, yet pragmatic, research to design, implement and evaluate interventions aimed at reducing racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in cancer and other chronic diseases. She serves as principal investigator or co-investigator on a number of ongoing projects including studies to compare the effectiveness of approaches to increasing HPV vaccine completion in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), evaluate the effect of a multilevel interventions to improve follow-up colonoscopy after abnormal fecal immunochemical test (FIT) results, and studies focused on improving the uptake of lung cancer screening among eligible adults. She has also conducted research focused on improving participation of underserved populations in cancer clinical trials, skin cancer prevention in high-risk populations, liver disease prevention, and lifestyle behavior promotion. Most of these studies have been conducted in collaboration with a wide range of community partners including the county health department, community-based organizations, churches, preschools, and safety net clinics. Her research has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, CDC, and the California Tobacco Related Disease Program and the California Breast Cancer Research Program.
Director Mina Sedrak is a board-certified medical oncologist and internationally recognized leader in breast cancer, aging, and survivorship research. He is Associate Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Director of the Cancer and Aging Program in the Department of Medicine’s Division of Hematology-Oncology. Dr. Sedrak leads research funded by the NIH, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and Rising Tide Foundation to develop biologically informed interventions, such as senolytics and exercise, that target the mechanisms driving accelerated aging and help prevent frailty and functional decline in patients with cancer. His work has earned several recognitions, including the Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Award, the Susan G. Komen Rising Star Researcher Award, the NCI Early Career Scientist Award, and selection as an ASCO Leadership Development Program Scholar. He holds leadership roles across national and international organizations, including Chair of the ASCO Clinical Research Committee, Vice Chair of the Alliance Cancer in the Older Adult Committee, and Co-Chair of Breast Cancer & Aging in the Breast International Group. A dedicated mentor, Dr. Sedrak also serves as Co-Chair of the Analytics Core for the Cancer and Aging Research Group, an international collaborative advancing research infrastructure and training for the next generation of clinician investigators. In his clinical practice, he cares for individuals with breast cancer, with a focus on preserving health, independence, and function.
- Denise Aberle, MD *
- William Aronson, MD *
- Deanna J. Attai, MD, FACS
- Jennifer Baker, MD
- Roshan Bastani, PhD *
- Thomas Belin, PhD
- Jonathan Bergman, MD, MPH
- Barbara Berman, PhD
- Julienne Bower, PhD *
- Eden Brauer, PhD, MSN, RN
- Alex Bui, PhD *
- Judith E. Carroll, PhD *
- Jacqueline Casillas, MD, MSHS *
- Karim Chamie, MD, MSHS *
- Chun Chao, PhD, MS
- Dana Chase, MD
- Katherine Chen, MD, PhD
- Burt Cowgill, PhD *
- Carolyn J. Crandall, MD, MS, FACP
- Catherine Crespi, PhD *
- Roger Detels, MD, MS *
- Joann G. Elmore, MD, MPH *
- Yvonne Flores, PhD *
- Patricia Ganz, MD *
- Feng Gao, PhD
- Lillian Gelberg, MD, MSPH *
- Pamina Gorbach, MHS, DrPH *
- Gail Greendale, MD
- Anasheh Halabi, MD, PhD
- Mia Hashibe, PhD, MPH *
- Susanne M. Henning, PhD, RD
- Alison Herrmann, PhD, MS *
- Felicia Hodge, DrPH
- Risa Hoffman, MD, MPH *
- William Hsu, PhD *
- Michael Irwin, MD *
- Michael Jerrett, PhD *
- Jingran Ji, MD *
- Su Yon Jung, PhD, MPH *
- Marjorie Kagawa-Singer, PhD, MA, MN, RN
- Katherine Kahn, MD
- Beth Karlan, MD *
- Leeka Kheifets, MA, PhD
- Amar Kishan, MD *
- Felicia Marie Knaul, MA, PhD *
- Donald M. Lamkin, PhD
- Eunice Lee, PhD, GNP
- Mark Litwin, MD, MPH *
- Honghu Liu, PhD
- Elisa F. Long, PhD
- James Macinko, PhD *
- Melinda Maggard Gibbons, MD, MSHS
- Emily J. Martin, MD, MS
- Annette Maxwell, DrPH *
- Fola May, MD, PhD *
- William McCarthy, PhD *
- Susan McCloskey, MD, MSHS
- Marcia McGory Russell, MD *
- Drew Moghanaki, MD, MPH *
- Anna-Barbara Moscicki, MD *
- Corrina Moucheraud, ScD, MPH
- Arash Naeim, MD, PhD *
- Roch Nianogo, MD, PhD
- Akihiro Nishi, MD, MPH, DrPH
- Michael Ong, MD, PhD
- Jeanette Papp, PhD, MS
- Ninez Ponce, PhD *
- Nadereh Pourat, PhD *
- Ashley E. Prosper, MD *
- Ann Raldow, MD, MPH
- Beate Ritz, MD, PhD *
- Wendie Robbins, PhD
- Christopher Saigal, MD, MPH *
- Christine Samuel-Nakamura, PhD, RN, FNP-BC *
- Ricky R. Savjani, MD, PhD
- Robert Schiestl, PhD
- Mary Sehl, MD, PhD *
- Gregory Senofsky, MD, FACS
- Tina Shih, PhD *
- Joseph D. Shirk, MD
- William Speier, PhD
- Paul Spellman , PhD *
- Annette Stanton, PhD *
- Michael Steinberg, MD *
- Peter Szilagyi, MD, MPH *
- Kekoa Taparra, MD, PhD, MPH *
- Mediget Teshome, MD, MPH, FACS
- Carlie K. Thompson, MD
- Derek Urwin, PhD *
- Luca Valle, MD *
- Kathleen Van Dyk, PhD *
- Anne M. Walling, MD, PhD *
- Neil Wenger, MD, MPH *
- Trudy C. Wu, MD
- Eric Yang, MD
- Zuo-Feng Zhang, MD, PhD *
- Xi Zhu, PhD *
- Yifang Zhu, PhD *
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