AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH

See schedule o.researchresearch programsscientific study of the relationship of diet, physical activity and weight management to cancer risk and survivorship continues to be the primary focus of american institute for cancer research (aicr) research investment and activities. Evidence shows that weight management, physical activity, food and nutrition play important roles in cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. Research shows that approximately 40% of all cancers could be prevented if everyone reached and maintained a healthy weight, followed the recommendations for regular physical activity, consumed a healthy diet, avoided use of tobacco products and followed appropriate screening and vaccination guidelines. Aicr is unique in its focus on preventing cancer and improving survival through diet, nutrition, body composition and physical activity. We collate and interpret the latest and most authoritative global scientific research on the links between cancer and diet, nutrition, body composition and physical activity. We then translate our findings into practical, clear, evidence-based recommendations on cancer prevention for use by health professionals, individuals and governments worldwide.in total, through fy24, aicr has committed more than $112 million for hundreds of individual research projects at universities, hospitals and research centers.aicr pioneered the funding of research examining diet and cancer and was the first organization to devote itself to studying the role of diet and other lifestyle factors in lowering cancer risk. The research that we have funded has helped transform the once-radical notion that everyday choices can dramatically reduce cancer risk into a universally accepted medical fact and public health policy.our multi-faceted investment in research continues across several core activities.aicr grant programsthe aicr grant programs are dedicated to funding research on cancer prevention, treatment and survival related to diet, nutrition, body composition and physical activity. All applications are subjected to rigorous peer review. Inspire research challenge: in 2023, aicr initiated a new grant program, the "inspire research challenge," in addition to our existing investigator-initiated research grant program. The inspire research challenge is a partnership with the world cancer research fund (wcrf) international with the goal of supporting innovative ideas from early career researchers within 2-6 years of phd completion. 2024 saw the funding of the first round of approved inspire research challenge grants, and the continuation of the program. The 2024 grant review panel was chaired by dr. Richard simpson (university of arizona) and dr. Amanda cross (imperial college london) with written review inlcuded dr. Yikyung park (washington university), dr. Kathryn beck (massey university), dr. Christina dahm (aarhus university), dr. Richard simpson (arizona university), dr. Ellen kampman (wageningenuniversity), and dr. James turner (university of birmingham). Reports provided from external independent content experts. Investigator-initiated research grant (iig) program: for the 2024 cycle of the investigator-initiated research grant program grant cycle, we received 125 letters of intent: 47 on cancer prevention, 62 on cancer survivorship and 16 covering both areas. We invited 32 applicants to submit full applications and received 27 for our grant panel to review and discuss. For the 2024 grant cycle, we welcomed co-chairs dr. Linda cook (cancer center associate director for population science, tenured professor in the department of epidemiology, colorado school of public health) and dr. Paul spagnuolo (associate professor in the department of food science, university of guelph). The grant review panel included 11 additional experts with the depth and breadth of expertise to evaluate the scientific merit and impact of the proposed research. The grant review panel meeting was conducted in a hybrid format with the two co-chairs joining us in-person and the other reviewers attending by video conference. Reviewers- christina dieli-conwright, phd, mph, dana-farber cancer institute- daniel hall, phd, massachusetts general hospital- dong-woo kang, phd, dana-farber cancer institute- emily lavoy, phd, university of houston- yue liao, phd, mph, cph, university of texas, arlington- gerardo mackenzie, phd, university of california, davis- connie rogers, phd, pennsylvania state university- keri schadler, phd, university of texas md anderson cancer center- patricia wolf, phd, rdn, purdue universityfunded grantsiig1.refineement and proof-of-concept testing of a "food is medicine" intervention for childhood cancer survivors. Rahela aziz-bose, md, mph, dana-farber cancer institute 2. Effects of glycemic control during colon cancer treatment measured using continuous glucose monitoring. Justin brown, phd, louisiana state university3. Mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of resistance/endurance exercise training in cancer cachexia, michael de lisio, phd, university of ottawa 4. Digital lifestyle intervention to improve normal weight obesity in primary breast cancer. Neil iyengar, md, memorial sloan kettering5. A probiotic approach to alter farnesoid x receptor signaling in immune cells and thus treat metastatic breast cancer. Erik nelson, phd, university of illinois urbana-champaign inspire (funded by the wcrf/aicr network)6. Early life infections: pathways to prevent adult cancers? Julie aarestrup, ms, phd, bispebjerg and frederiksberg hospital, kbenhavn, denmark7. Impact of sleep on the development of reproductive system cancers. Christos chalitsios, phd, msc, university of ioannina, ioannina, greece8. Life-s-can: clinical tool to screen and improve cancer survivorship care and quality of life. Alice chaplin, phd, msc, consorcio centro de investigacin biomdica en red, madrid, spain9. Exploring the mechanisms linking sleep patterns and breast cancer risk. Shan luo, phd, mph, university of hong kong, pok fu lam, hong kong10. How high-intensity exercise and fiber affect immunotherapy outcomes for patients with melanoma. Dong-woo kang, phd, cep/cet, dana-farber cancer institute, boston, ma11. Using ai chatbots to support families of children with cancer. Micah skeens, phd, aprn, faan, research institute at nationwide children's hospital, columbus, ohaicr expert reportssince 2007, aicr and its international affiliate, the world cancer research fund (wcrf), have worked together on the continuous update project (cup). The cup has built on the systematic literature review conducted for our 2007 second expert report food, nutrition, physical activity, and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective. In 2018, aicr and wcrf published diet, nutrition, physical activity and cancer: a global perspective, the third expert report to update both the assessment of the evidence for the impact of each factor on cancer risk and revise the cancer prevention recommendations the cup provides through timely reviews and expert panel assessments of the available peer-reviewed evidence. The cup reports have identified emerging research areas and knowledge gaps that could be addressed within our grant program. Equally, new data generated from studies funded through our grant program are included in the cup reviews. Thus, aicr's research grant programs and the cup act synergistically to strengthen the scientific evidence on the impact of diet, nutrition, body composition and physical activity on cancer prevention and control.in 2020, the cup embarked on a process of evaluation and strategic planning, termed the cup transition, with a panel of international experts to determine the optimal directions for future research in this field. This process continued through 2021, concluding with the development of a new strategy that was operationalized in 2022. Concurrently, the cup transition panel reviewed the completed systematic literature reviews on medical outcomes and quality of life in breast cancer survivors and submitted several manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.