The UW Carbone Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) Program’s mission is to identify effective approaches to reduce the burden of cancer for patients, their families, and communities through improved prevention, early detection, and survival.
CPC spans basic, clinical, and population science to identify effective approaches to reduce the burden of cancer for patients, their families, and communities through improved prevention, early detection, and clinical care.
This goal is consistent with the mission of UW Carbone to defeat cancer through rapid application of groundbreaking research to education, prevention, and treatment. The
CPC fills a central role in supporting population health research—a priority area of research—as well as fostering multidisciplinary team science and enhancing internal and external partnerships in support of the Center’s mission.
Thematic Aim 1: Prevention & Biomarkers
Research addressing identification of novel targets, biomarkers, agents, and strategies for cancer prevention and risk reduction
Thematic Aim 2: Psychosocial and Supportive Care Research
Research addressing biopsychosocial factors and interventions that influence the patient and family experience of cancer and related supportive and palliative care needs
Thematic Aim 3: Cancer Care Delivery
Research related to the provision of care, including provider- and system-factors, with the goal of enhancing quality of care throughout the cancer continuum
Cancer Prevention & Control Membership
View all Cancer Prevention and Control program members.
Select Recent Accomplishments
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Aim 1: Prevention & Biomarkers
- Advances in melanoma: A recent study from Dr. Nihal Ahmad identified the tumor-intrinsic protein MZB1 as a key driver of melanoma progression (Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2025).
- Evaluation of cancer prevention strategies: Drs. Bailey, Kim, Huang, Ricke, and Barroilhet evaluated weekly erlotinib therapy for cancer prevention in patients undergoing surgery for noninvasive bladder neoplasia (Cancer Prevention Research, 2025).
- National leadership in tobacco cessation and cancer prevention: Dr. Hasmeena Kathuria was recruited as Director of the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI), where she leads innovative research to reduce tobacco-related cancer risk. In June 2025, Dr. Kathuria was honored as one of 24 recipients of the School of Medicine and Public Health Faculty Investiture.
- Improving equity in smoking cessation research: A study led by Dr. Danielle McCarthy found that proactive e-referral strategies may improve participation among African American and Medicaid-eligible patients (Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2025).
- Innovative cessation studies for emerging tobacco products: CPC investigators Drs. Piper, Baker, and Piasecki lead NCI-funded studies to inform clinical treatment for tobacco and nicotine use. One project (5R01CA290895) compares cessation medications, counseling approaches, and treatment duration to help dual users quit smoking, while another (1R01CA291761) evaluates nicotine pouches as potential cigarette substitutes.
Aim 2: Cancer Care Delivery
- Improving screening for colon cancer: Jennifer Weiss studied the cost-effectiveness of non-invasive screening tests for colorectal cancer outcomes (Shaukat, Clin Gastenterol Hepatol, 2025). Drs. Gangnon, Trentham-Dietz, Weiss, and Warren-Andersen published on differences in colorectal cancer screening uptake among various population groups (Giurini, Cancer Prev Res, 2025).
- Precision breast cancer control: Trentham-Dietz is a national leader in comparative modeling for precision breast cancer control (U01CA253911). She contributed to updated mammography screening recommendations to begin screening at age 40 instead of 50 (Trentham-Dietz, JAMA 2024).
- Participation in national cooperative groups: CPC members participate in national cooperative groups and contribute to national practice guidelines. Five guidelines issued in 2025 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) were co-authored by members of CPC including those for cancer survivorship with Dr. Neuman (Sanft, J NCCN, 2025), gastric polyposis and gastric cancer with Dr. Weiss (Aelvoet, J NCCN, 2025; Lerner, J NCCN, 2025), pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia with Dr. Lee-Miller (Inaba, J NCCN, 2025), ovarian cancer with Dr. Barroilhet (Alvarez, J NCCN, 2025) alcohol counseling in the oncology setting with Dr. LoConte (Freiberg, J NCCN, 2025).
Aim 3: Psychosocial & Supportive Care Research
- Rigorous evaluation of supportive care strategies: Dr. Lisa Cadmus-Bertram in collaboration with Drs. Kris Kwekkeboom, Amy Trentham-Dietz, Ronald Gangnon, and Shaneda Warren Andersen surveyed survivors of advanced cancer on their needs and preferences for supportive care (Agnew, BMJ Support Palliat, 2025; Agnew, Suppor Care Cancer, 2025).
- Discovering the determinants of bone loss after cancer: Dr. Janelle Sobecki is building upon her earlier success (Sobecki, Osteoporos Int, 2025) and accruing to an investigator-initiated trial examining bone density changes after cancer therapy.
- Research infrastructure with the goal of improving health: Drs. Lisa Cadmus-Bertram and Elizabeth Burnside lead the Wisconsin area portion of the All of Us initiative (OT2OD037636).
- Determining how social needs and patient preferences impact outcomes: Dr. Neuman is leading a study to identify how surgical decisions during breast cancer treatment are influenced by patient preferences and interactions with their surgeons (R21CA283601).
- National leadership in Integrative Medicine: CPC recently welcomed Dr. Kim Dittus into the CPC program. Dr. Dittus researches how to improve cancer treatments and supportive care interventions through an integrative medicine lens.
Training the next generation of cancer researchers
- Neuman is the PI of the T32 award funding the UW Surgical Oncology Research Training Program (UW-SORT, T32CA090217).
- Lisa Barroilhet and Dr. Elizabeth Burnside are MPI’s of the Building Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health (BIRCWH, K12AR084227) K12 award, which received a competitive renewal in 2025.
- Noelle LoConte is the PI of an Institutional Research Grant from the American Cancer Society. This grant supports early career faculty with pilot awards that will facilitate their progress towards obtaining a nationally peer-reviewed grant and launching their independent research programs.