Methodological Training for Social and Behavioral Research in Cancer Control - PROJECT SUMMARY Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, with more than 2 million new cases and 600,000 Americans dying of cancer annually. Approximately 45% of cancer deaths are attributable to preventable behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. Likewise, social, psychological, economic, and sociocultural factors have direct and indirect effects on cancer outcomes. However, methodological challenges pose a significant barrier to the translation of social and behavioral science into real solutions for cancer prevention and control. Social and behavioral factors have subjective, idiographic, dynamic, and multilevel features that are difficult to assess, experimentally manipulate, and analyze. Training in cutting-edge methodological solutions to these problems is needed to advance the stagnate state of the science. We propose establishing a National Cancer Institute (NCI) T32 program to provide six predoctoral trainees per year with innovative methodological training for social and behavioral cancer control and prevention research. The T32 training program will focus on the application of novel study design, assessment, experimental, and analytic methods to identify social and behavioral determinants of cancer risk and prevention behaviors, screening, and treatment utilization; elucidate effects of cancer-related behaviors on cancer biomarkers, incidence, survival, quality of life, symptom relief, tumor disappearance, and mortality; and translate basic social and behavioral science discoveries to develop and evaluate interventions and policies for cancer control. The T32 program will foster cross-pollination across three methodological themes: (1) Harnessing Digital Technologies and Big Data; (2) Modeling Change and Improving Methods for Causal Inference; and (3) Advancing Community-Engaged Methods for Interventions and Implementation Science; and a cross-cutting Equal Health Access theme. Predoctoral trainees will develop methodological skills to conduct rigorous social and behavioral research in cancer control applying interdisciplinary and translational perspectives. A large faculty team with a strong tradition of mentoring predoctoral trainees and extensive portfolios of research grant support in psychology, epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, exercise science, addiction science, spatial science, economics, and public policy is available to trainees. The T32 will engage predoctoral trainees across a two-year training period, which will include didactic activities such as weekly seminars; elective coursework; and short courses on advanced research methods, grant-writing, public speaking, research reproducibility, leadership, and professional well-being. The training period will also involve mentored research and experiential training with a hands-on approach to developing methodological skills. T32 trainees will gain knowledge and skills necessary to address pertinent public health issues and become leaders in social and behavioral cancer research. Overall, the T32 program will catalyze the advancement of methodologically innovative cancer research training to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality for all people.
