Cancer Immunoprevention Network (CIP-Net)

The Cancer Immunoprevention Network (CIP-Net) supports research projects focused on discovery of novel immunoprevention pathways and immune targets; preclinical development and testing of interventions (agents/vaccines); and investigating mechanisms of efficacy and potential side effects for precision cancer prevention-interception. To accomplish these goals, CIP-Net fosters a community of cancer immunoprevention researchers.

Despite both revolutionary progress in cancer immunotherapy and scientific promise and research opportunities across the cancer research community, cancer immunoprevention research is underrepresented.

In accordance with the BSA Ad Hoc Working Group on Prevention Report (PDF, 770 KB), the NCI Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) and Division of Cancer Biology (DCB) aim to collaboratively tackle the scientific gaps in immunoprevention by encouraging both basic and translational preclinical immunoprevention research through establishing the Cancer Immunoprevention Network (CIP-Net).

CIP-Net supports projects from basic through translational preclinical research with an emphasis on exploring the biology of early malignancy and addressing the research gap between immunoprevention and immunotherapy.

The scientific research priorities include targeting high-risk populations, such as:

• inherited cancer predisposition individuals (e.g., high-penetrance germline mutations)
• individuals with precancers (e.g., neoplasia, adenomas, DCIS)
• individuals exposed to occupational or environmental carcinogens
• special populations such as MGUS
• cancer survivorship cohorts.

Given that immunoprevention is still a new field, the emphasis will be on building immunoprevention bridges across complementary cancer research communities and scientific outreach. Candidate agents and vaccines that emerge from CIP-Net research may move forward to the PREVENT program for further preclinical development towards clinical trials.

More About CIP-Net.