The UCLA Career Development Program in Population-Based Cancer Prevention and Control Research
UCLA Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research
School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
The Career Development Program
The Program Setting
The Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research (DCPCR) resides within two important entities at UCLA: the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the School of Public Health. The DCPCR is nationally recognized for its leadership and rigorous research in three major program areas.
The Healthy and At-Risk Population Program focuses on research in primary prevention and screening/early detection among healthy populations and persons at increased risk for developing cancer. With a heavy focus on cancer disparities, the program's research portfolio includes tobacco control, nutrition and physical activity, breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancer screening, as well as risk counseling and genetic testing of high-risk populations.
The Patients and Survivors Program has as its major goal the reduction in avoidable morbidity and mortality among adult and pediatric patients with cancer and long-term survivors of cancer. The program focus on behavioral intervention research, assessment of quality of life and other health care outcomes, nutritional intervention research and symptom control research. The two main thematic areas of research are quality of life and quality of care.
The Molecular Epidemiology Program focuses on cancer epidemiology, environmental risks for cancer, and gene-environment interactions. Studies span a range of efforts from laboratory investigations to large field studies with case control designs. The focus is on understanding the biological underpinnings of cancer risk and disease progression through delineation of exposure and predisposing molecular abnormalities in at-risk populations.
Across these three program areas, the Division's research spans the full cancer control continuum, from primary prevention, screening and early detection, to continuing care, rehabilitation and outcomes research. Division researchers hold appointments primarily in the UCLA School of Public Health and School of Medicine, forging strong and dynamic links between cancer control research and the public health arena.
UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) is one of just 39 cancer centers nationwide to have received the National Cancer Institute's coveted "comprehensive" designation. This mark of distinction affirms the Center's adherence to the highest standards of excellence in patient care, education, basic science, clinical research, and cancer prevention and control. Founded in 1974, the Jonsson Cancer Center today boasts more than 240 physicians and scientists, representing some 40 disciplines, who lead the world in many areas of basic science and clinical cancer research. Central to the JCCC's mission are research programs aimed at the prevention and detection of cancer, as well as the enhancement of quality of life and survival for cancer patients. This mandate is the charge of the JCCC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research (DCPCR).
The School of Public Health at UCLA is located within the renowned Center for the Health Sciences on the UCLA campus. Its proximity to UCLA's College of Letters and Science and other professional schools facilitates an extraordinary degree of multidisciplinary collaboration that spans the entire university campus. Established as an independent school in 1961, the UCLA School of Public Health has grown to international prominence with 200 faculty members teaching more than 700 students (500 masters level and 200 doctoral level students) from around the world. Students at the UCLA School of Public Health receive state-of-the art public health training from distinguished experts in the field (including nine members of the Institute of Medicine and three past presidents of the American Public Health Association) combined with practical, hands-on experience. The School is organized in five departments: Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences, and Health Services. The breadth of its faculty, the scope of its curriculum, and the diversity of research have earned the School a reputation as one of the nation's premier schools of public health. Its graduates can be found in positions of leadership in the private and public sectors, at all levels of government, in research and in education.
The University of California, Los Angeles, is one of the top research universities in the nation. Located on 419 acres in the Westwood area of Los Angeles, the campus houses the College of Letters and Science, 11 professional schools, one of the largest research library systems, and with its museums and performance venues, the leading arts and culture center in the West. UCLA's enrollment of more than 36,000 students makes it not only California's largest university, but also one of the most culturally diverse campuses in the nation. The University's distinguished Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Dentistry, Law, Education, Management and Public Policy provide a vast and accessible network for collaborative, multi-disciplinary research.
Research conducted at UCLA is greatly enriched by the University's location in Los Angeles and Southern California, where a vast and dynamic mix of cultures, ethnicities, industries, universities, and public and private service providers leads to unparalleled opportunities for research and service. All of the global challenges of the 21st century are at UCLA's doorstep: environmental issues, economic and social policy concerns, urban and immigrant issues, the need for reform in public education and for affordable health care. Los Angeles has among the nation's largest public health and public education infrastructures, and is home to many nationally-recognized community-based and advocacy organizations. These entities often partner with the University in its research, education and service endeavors.