Seven Thematic Areas to be the focus in P20 Awards

Bolded text indicates the target thematic areas addressed in the current UI Cancer and Aging [CAP] P20 Award.

o The Biology of Aging and Cancer -- Research on genetics, molecular signatures, bench to bedside application, translational research, and age-related changes as they contribute to mortality. Research is also needed on older people who are vulnerable to cancer as contrasted with those who are not.

o Effects of Comorbidity -- Developing optimum ways to characterize, before cancer treatment, the nature, severity, and likely effects of co-morbidities in order to offset and reduce any harmful impact of a patients' other health problems on their cancer treatment.

o Treatment Efficacy and Tolerance -- Research into older people's absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs, including response to drugs and radiation.

o Patterns of Care -- Research into the effects of co-morbidity as it relates to treatment. This might include community-based studies, patient management, and cancer site-specific studies.

o Prevention, Risk Assessment, and Screening -- Research on whether age biases in the health care system interfere with the delivery of effective, optimal prevention and early detection services.

o Psychosocial Issues and Medical Effects -- Developing a core set of tools to assess the quality of life of older cancer patients, ways to reduce caregiver and care recipient stress, and interventions to prevent or reduce the medical and psychological effects of cancer treatment.

o Palliative Care, End-of-Life Care, Pain Relief -- Research to determine how to ensure that quality cancer care and treatment, including pain management, provides comfort and reflects patient and family preferences.