Health Outcomes & Behavior

PROJECT SUMMARY
HEALTH OUTCOMES & BEHAVIOR PROGRAM
The overarching goal of the Health Outcomes & Behavior (HOB) Program is to improve cancer outcomes by understanding and intervening on the behavior of individuals, social networks, healthcare systems, and communities. Supporting this goal, HOB research activities are organized into three Specific Aims:
Aim 1: To reduce the burden of tobacco-related cancers by understanding mechanisms of addiction, and by developing and implementing evidence-based interventions to reduce tobacco use across populations.
Aim 2: To improve utilization of cancer prevention and detection services through the development and implementation of multi-level interventions targeting patient-, provider-, systems-, and community-level barriers and facilitators.
Aim 3: To improve the quality of survivorship through innovative research that identifies and intervenes on the short- and long-term physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment.
The impact of research in the three Aims is manifest through two cross-cutting themes that seek to: 1) improve healthcare delivery for cancer prevention and treatment; and 2) reduce differences cancer-related health outcomes across populations.
HOB is comprised of 28 Members from 8 different academic departments. Since 2016, 554 cancer-related articles were published, with 30% representing intra-programmatic collaborations and 25% representing inter-programmatic collaborations. Notably, since the last renewal, the number of NIH R01 grants with HOB PIs has doubled from 5 to 10, including 9 from NCI. HOB Members hold a total of 14 qualifying R01/equivalent grants. Grant funding is $5.7 million in direct costs, of which $4.5 million is peer-reviewed, including 57% from NCI. HOB is also strongly committed to multi-institute research and has also increased multi-site studies from 10 to 17.
HOB Program Members conduct policy-changing observational and intervention research on the major cancers that affect the catchment area and vulnerable populations with respect to prevention, screening, quality of life, and cancer care delivery. Additionally, HOB Members conduct community-based participatory research in concert with organizations in the catchment area with the goal of reducing differences in health outcomes through multi-level practice changes. Synergistic goals over the next five years include expanding partnerships with community cancer care providers and other health centers in our catchment area, expanding cancer care delivery research and implementation science, and increasing the HOB research portfolio in energy balance for cancer prevention and control. By collaborating with colleagues from other Programs and institutions, HOB Members conduct translational research that is driving scientific discovery, establishing public health policies, and transforming patient care delivery, practice, and quality of life.

Grant Number: 5P30CA076292-27
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: THOMAS BRANDON