Cancer Prevention Institute of California
Encyclopedia
The Cancer Prevention Institute of California, located in Fremont, California
, is a center for cancer research
, examining the incidence of cancer
among general and specific groups of people at the local, state, and national level, and for the dissemination of cancer screening
information.
CPIC studies help scientist
s and public health agencies
understand when ethnic, racial, or other demographic-based
variables result in health disparities wherein one group has a higher incidence of cancer compared to other groups of people. For example, CPIC research has demonstrated the higher incidence of colorectal cancer
among certain Asian populations. The organization was also instrumental in identifying and understanding factors leading to the markedly higher incidence of breast cancer
among women in the San Francisco Bay Area
's Marin County, California
.
On February 17, 2010, Northern California Cancer Center
changed its name to the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC).
scientific journals, such as Journal of the American Medical Association
. CPIC scientists also hold faculty appointments at Stanford University’s School of Medicine.
CPIC works across all communities to:
The CPIC recently formed a partnership with the Stanford Cancer Institute at Stanford University Medical Center
that played a role in the center’s recent designation as a NCI-designated Cancer Center
. The CPIC contributes epidemiology, prevention and outreach programs to the partnership.
Breast Cancer Family Registry
The CPIC also collaborates in the Breast Cancer Family Registry, an international consortium established in 1995 by the National Cancer Institute. To date, over 15,000 breast cancer families from the US, Canada and Australia have been enrolled, including over 3,000 from the San Francisco Bay Area
, most of who are from racial/ethnic minority populations.
Fremont, California
Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
, is a center for cancer research
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
, examining the incidence of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
among general and specific groups of people at the local, state, and national level, and for the dissemination of cancer screening
Cancer screening
Cancer screening aims to detect cancer before symptoms appear. This may involve blood tests, urine tests, other tests, or medical imaging. The benefits of screening in terms of cancer prevention, early detection and subsequent treatment must be weighed against any harms.Universal screening, mass...
information.
CPIC studies help scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s and public health agencies
United States Public Health Service
The Public Health Service Act of 1944 structured the United States Public Health Service as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare , which later became the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and...
understand when ethnic, racial, or other demographic-based
Demography
Demography is the statistical study of human population. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic human population, that is, one that changes over time or space...
variables result in health disparities wherein one group has a higher incidence of cancer compared to other groups of people. For example, CPIC research has demonstrated the higher incidence of colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
among certain Asian populations. The organization was also instrumental in identifying and understanding factors leading to the markedly higher incidence of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
among women in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
's Marin County, California
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
.
On February 17, 2010, Northern California Cancer Center
Northern California Cancer Center
On February 17, 2010, the Northern California Cancer Center officially changed its name to the Cancer Prevention Institute of California . The new name was chosen to more accurately convey the organization’s focus on cancer prevention and its statewide coverage. - External links :*...
changed its name to the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC).
CPIC Scientists
CPIC typically has between twelve and fifteen doctoral level scientists working under the direction of a Chief Scientific Officer. Most of the organization’s scientists have degrees in epidemiology, demography, biostatistics, or public health. To support their research, they compete individually and collectively for major government awards, and for private sector research awards as these become available. The scientist designated as the study’s principal investigator assembles a team of experts, such as demographers or biostatisticians, who will conduct the investigation and when a grant or contract is awarded based on peer review, other study staff, such as field staff, are hired. When the study is completed, the results are disseminated, primarily by being published in peer-reviewedPeer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
scientific journals, such as Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Association is a weekly, peer-reviewed, medical journal, published by the American Medical Association. Beginning in July 2011, the editor in chief will be Howard C. Bauchner, vice chairman of pediatrics at Boston University’s School of Medicine, replacing ...
. CPIC scientists also hold faculty appointments at Stanford University’s School of Medicine.
Mission
The mission of the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC) is to prevent cancer and to reduce its burden where it cannot yet be prevented.CPIC works across all communities to:
- Explore the causes of cancer by studying the genetic, environmental, and viral origins of cancers, and, once these causes have been established,
- Aid prevention by identifying where appropriate intervention can stop cancer before its starts
- Ensure that cancer prevention and treatment strategies benefit all people everywhere by
- monitoring the incidence of cancer among the general public,
- investigating racial or ethnic based disparities in cancer prevention tactics or care options,
- educating the public about cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship options, and
- reaching out to underserved populations to ensure that they have equal access to these advances.
Major Collaborations
Stanford Cancer InstituteThe CPIC recently formed a partnership with the Stanford Cancer Institute at Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford University Medical Center represents the Stanford Hospital and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and is located at 300 Pasteur Drive in Stanford, California. Stanford Hospital provides both general acute care services and tertiary medical care for patients locally, nationally and...
that played a role in the center’s recent designation as a NCI-designated Cancer Center
NCI-designated Cancer Center
NCI-designated Cancer Centers are a group of approximately 66 cancer research institutions in the United States supported by the National Cancer Institute....
. The CPIC contributes epidemiology, prevention and outreach programs to the partnership.
Breast Cancer Family Registry
The CPIC also collaborates in the Breast Cancer Family Registry, an international consortium established in 1995 by the National Cancer Institute. To date, over 15,000 breast cancer families from the US, Canada and Australia have been enrolled, including over 3,000 from the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, most of who are from racial/ethnic minority populations.