Guide for Collaborators

Northern California Cancer Center Overview

In 1974, the deans of the medical schools at Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco, and the vice president of the American Cancer Society's California division founded the Northern California Cancer Program (NCCP) as an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing cancer through collaborative research and community and professional education.  Later, the NCCP was awarded a grant, making it an NCI-designated cancer center, and the name of the organization was changed to the Northern California Cancer Center (NCCC). During the 1970s and 80s, the NCCC was involved in primarily clinical research, but for the last fifteen years it has focused on population-science-related work (surveillance, epidemiology, and cancer control), increasingly incorporating molecular, genetic, outcomes and clinical components into this research. NCCC scientists conduct research across the cancer continuum--including prevention, causation, early detection, treatment, and survivorship--with many studies focusing on health disparities by race, ethnicity, or culture in specific populations with an unequal cancer burden.

NCCC's 14 doctorate-level scientists currently conduct independent and collaborative studies with national and international organizations and colleagues for over 60 research projects, contributing extensive expertise in research design, surveillance and registries, epidemiology, and outcomes. Many studies utilize large databases that include patient information and biospecimens (blood and tissue), and most include study participants who are representative of the general population. 

NCCC is a nationally recognized leader in research and community outreach, and supports its cancer mission through a variety of programs and expertise in three main areas: management of registries and other large databases, epidemiology, and outreach and education. 

Registries and Large Databases

Epidemiology

Community Outreach and Education

Collaboration Opportunities

The Northern California Cancer Center Collaborative Project Areas

     I.      Registry Management

     II.     Clinical Trials, Intervention Trials, Behavior Modification Trials

     III.    Post license safety and surveillance of drug, vaccine, or nutritional therapies
             (Phase IV - provide ongoing data after regulatory (FDA) approval)

     IV.    Epidemiology: Consulting, Collaboration, and Independent Studies

     V.     Health Education

NCCC conducts innovative and dynamic cancer research and outreach programs that explore areas with significant impact on reducing the cancer burden.  For more information about our research  programs or possible collaborations, contact Tim Radak (tradak@nccc.org, 510-608-5026) or Ingrid Oakley-Girvan (ioakley@nccc.org, 510-608-5045).