US NCI's Center for Global Health Regional Centers for Research Excellence Program to Support Research Infrastructure on Noncommunicable Diseases, Metal Health, and Injuries
Authors: Silkensen S. , Wolf N. , Flanigan J. 
Published: September 2018

Background and context: To advance our broad, collective understanding of cancer epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Sophisticated researchers have an inclination that populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) may hold the essential keys needed to advance our understanding carcinogenesis and other disease progression. Aim: To address this need, the US NCI's Center for Global Health selected 11 meritorious, peer-reviewed teams of investigators, throughout the world, to receive Regional Centers of Research Excellence Planning Grants (RCREs). RCRE centers are designed to focus the US NCI's ongoing, international research investments in cancer epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in places where international populations are essential to making progress for humankind. Strategy/Tactics: The RCRE program galvanizes investigators, clinicians, and patients in LMIC communities. It answers their requests (1) by including investigators from both high-, middle-, and lower-income countries; (2) by encouraging multiple chronic conditions to be studied together; and (3) is driven by the research needs to of the people living in the LMIC communities. Program/Policy process: Furthermore, the RCRE program smooths the way for investigators to plan centers that coordinate the cancer and NCD research needs by providing the investigators with protected time. Lastly, each RCRE team is required to complete a small demonstration project in the LMICs. Outcomes: At the end of the two-year planning grant, all 11 RCRE teams will have created a plan for a Regional Center of Research Excellence. Mechanistically, this plan will have several sections, that together will recount the center's scientific impact on the region. The plan will influence researchers, clinicians, patients, policy makers, and members of civil society as they identify the cancer and other NCD research areas pertinent to their community. Six of the 11 centers focused their cancer pilot research project on breast cancer. Five of the centers focused their pilot projects on cervix, esophageal, oral, prostate, or stomach cancer research. Cancer pilot projects ranged from identifying novel risk factors for liver cancer to investigating the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms variants with metabolic syndrome. All RCREs focused on a second NCD including 6 centers focusing on cardiovascular disease and 5 centers focusing on diabetes, injury, or depression research. What was learned: With a modest financial investment, 11 2-year planning grants can be supported. These 11 grants provide finance support for multiple principal investigators, at 23 distinct institutions. These 11 RCRE centers span 16 countries and 10 NCDs. Remarkably, during the first half of their 36-month project period, they have collectively published 10 manuscripts. The NCI Center for Global Health encourages the UICC/WCC community to become involved in this exciting research program.