UCI will manage the only NCI Cancer Genetics Network Center in California.

NCI also recently selected UCI to link the network centers electronically by developing and managing the network's cancer genetics database, an Internet-based information research, or "informatics," system. In addition, UCI is managing the informatics system for an existing NCI network of 12 institutions studying genetic and other causes of breast and colon cancer. The awards to the Epidemiology Division for the two informatics centers and the Cancer Genetics Network center total $10 million over five years.

The creation of the Cancer Genetics Network represents a major long-term research focus of NCI. The network will capitalize on recent advances in human genetics research, and support a broad range of basic and clinical research in a nationwide quest to find genetic susceptibility factors for cancer and prevention strategies for the disease.

"NCI had its pick of the best institutions in the country, so UCI is proud to be selected. This new network and the informatics center will become a potent force for new ideas and new strategies in the fight against cancer," UCI Chancellor Ralph J. Cicerone said. "This partnership between UCI and NCI, and with the other network centers, goes to the core of UCI's mission and underscores our national prominence in research, education and public service."

Thomas C. Cesario, dean of UCI's College of Medicine, said: "UCI's selection as one of the Cancer Genetics Network centers is possible only because of the high quality of our faculty. Our work in cancer is complemented by outstanding research in genetics, which is, in turn, complemented by our advances in informatics and basic sciences. These major NCI awards recognize UCI's role as a major contributor to combating what strikes fear in our hearts perhaps more than anything: a diagnosis of cancer."

The research generated from the Cancer Genetics Network centers will make possible an unprecedented collaboration among leading clinicians, basic scientists, epidemiologists, genetic counselors and community organizations. Each of the centers will have access to supplemental financial resources, information and cancer genetics expertise from NCI. Also, through linkages provided by the informatics center headquartered at UCI, the centers will be able to share resources, ideas and information.

Dr. Hoda Anton-Culver, chief of UCI's Epidemiology Division, is the director of both the UCI Cancer Genetics Network Center and the two informatics centers. She said the Cancer Genetics Network Center at UCI will consist of five divisions: basic research, molecular genetics, clinical research, genetic epidemiology and biostatistics, and genetic counseling and education. Specific goals of the center include:

Recruiting and tracking nearly 15,000 study participants from population groups that may be genetically susceptible to cancer.

Developing new techniques for detecting genetic mutations related to cancer susceptibility. Expanding the university's existing biospecimen repository to ensure an adequate supply of tissue samples for the major research programs.

Providing genetic counseling and education to study participants and their families.

Expanding methods of communicating and incorporating cancer genetics information and resources into medical practices in the community to benefit patients and community physicians.

"This network comes at a time of unprecedented scientific discoveries and reports of new methods to attack cancer at the genetic level. Our center, working within the network, will take advantage of those discoveries," Anton-Culver said.

As the informatics center for the NCI network, UCI will develop one of the most comprehensive human cancer genetics research databases ever undertaken. The system will contain data on hundreds of thousands of people who are genetically predisposed to cancer, as well as tissue samples, educational materials and other resources designed to increase the world's understanding of the genetic basis of cancer.

In addition, NCI has recognized UCI's leadership role in cancer informatics by choosing UCI to develop and operate an informatics center for 12 research institutions making up what is known as the Cooperative Family Registries for Breast and Colon Cancer Studies.

Specifically, Anton-Culver and her research team at UCI will manage patient databases and support the design of future genetic-epidemiology studies and technology training at the breast and colon cancer centers.

Co-investigators of the Cancer Genetics Research Center at UCI are Dr. Frank L. Meyskens, director of UCI's Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center; Dr. Philip J. DiSaia, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the UCI College of Medicine; Dr. Robert Moyzis, professor of biological chemistry at UCI College of Medicine, and Dr. Richard Kolodner, who directs UC San Diego's genetics laboratory.

For more information about studies at UCI's Cancer Genetics Network Center, contact the UCI Epidemiology Division at (949) 824-3008.