The Epidemiology Division has expanded tremendously since July 1999. The Epidemiology Division faculty, now consisting of 2 FTE and 18 assistant and associate level professors, are involved in several areas of epidemiologic research including cancer epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, environmental epidemiology, clinical epidemiology, psychosocial/behavioral epidemiology and biostatistics. Recently the discipline of epidemiology has been recognized as an essential discipline for the integration of knowledge from advances in molecular, medical, social and behavioral sciences.

The recruitment of four faculty (including 1 new FTE) in cancer epidemiology, cancer genetics, statistical genetics, biostatistics, genetics, and developmental and cell biology will address a deficit in areas of UCI research and will build on an emphasis and strength the Division has demonstrated in these areas in ongoing NCI-funded research projects.

The Epidemiology Division includes 76 staff professionals in the following categories: computer resource manager, community health program manager and supervisor, staff research associate, programmer-analyst, management services officer, senior analyst, analyst, laboratory assistant, statistician, patient record abstractor, nurse practitioner, coder, and writer. The administrative and information technology units provide overall support to areas and functions described above. The administrative unit has recently reorganized to provide more effective and efficient oversight of contracts and grants financial activity. This year alone the Epidemiology Division has submitted more than 61 grant proposals to various institutes including the National Cancer Institute, Public Health Institute, Department of Defense, Center for Disease Control, Environmental Protection Agency, American Cancer Society, and University of California (TDPRP); of these, 27 have been funded with resources of $12.3 million for year 2001-2002. A Grant Summary is provided in Attachment I. Due to the number of awards received this year, the Division has grown considerably. To meet the objectives of the awarding agencies, the Division has recruited 10 interviewers (staff research associates), 7 programmer-analysts, 3 statisticians, 2 assistant statisticians, 1 analyst and 1 human resources manager. The administrative unit has also felt the impact of this growth, with increased responsibility and accountability; yet the Division fared well in a random internal audit of year 2000 PARs, ranking among the top 5 of the 23 home department codes that were reviewed.

The current fiscal year budget for the Epidemiology Division tops at $11.57 million in direct costs. A Financial Summary is provided in Attachment II. As a result of the enormous growth in research funding, research personnel were relocated in April 1999 to offices at 100 Theory Drive, Suite 100, in the University Industrial Research Park, where more than 17,000 square feet of space is leased. The Division research offices are equipped with state-of-the-art technology including fiberoptic cabling to the University Internet backbone. Firewalls and an alarm system to ensure confidentiality and security of study participants’ medical records. In November 1999 the new offices were launched as the UCI Center for Cancer Genetics Research and Prevention. The new facility generated an enormous regional and campus interest that resulted in $5 million being raised toward the Cancer Genetics building – now known as Sprague Hall – which will accommodate 6 of our lab assistants.

Educational activity has also recently expanded, with the addition of Environmental Epidemiology, Cancer Epidemiology, and Biostatistics courses offered by the Epidemiology Division faculty. The faculty continues to teach graduate students in the School of Social Ecology and medical students in the College of Medicine.

The Epidemiology Division provides services nationally, statewide, regionally and University wide. In late 1999, Division Chief, Hoda Anton-Culver, PhD, was appointed to the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute (through June 30, 2003); these advisors guide the NCI in addressing important scientific issues in cancer research. In 2000, she was also selected as one of the outstanding Egyptian Medical Scientists Worldwide by a scientific journal in Cairo; the award was presented by the Ministry of Health of Egypt.