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The UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort would like to thank all study participants for their ongoing contribution to improving the lives of patients across North Carolina. The goal of the UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort is to better understand the causes of diseases, like cancer, which affect many North Carolinians. We appreciate the valuable time and energy contributed by UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort participants. Researchers at UNC and partner institutions are working hard to prevent disease, find better treatments with fewer side effects, and help people live their lives fully.

We enrolled 7,640 participants (5,618 with a cancer diagnosis in the UNC Tumor Registry, 652 with a cancer diagnosis outside UNC, and 1,299 without cancer) in the UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort. Participants were enrolled from the UNC oncology clinics during 2010-2016. Overall, 77% of approached patients enrolled.

Participant records are linked to the NC Vital Statistics data monthly and are linkable to Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare and Medicaid insurance claims data, and clinical medical records data. Participants in the UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort provided informed consent and all study procedures were approved by the UNC Institutional Review Board.

Before requesting data please familiarize yourself with the “For Researchers” tab. If your proposal involves new data collection you may also wish to review the Project Checklist here.

Start your data inquiry below:

Withdrawing from the study:If you are a participant in the UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort, you may request to be withdrawn from the study in writing, via telephone, or email at any time. If withdrawing from the study, please include your name, date of birth, and the date of your request.

Withdrawing from the UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort means that we will not contact you and we will not use your information or samples in the future. Please contact us by email at: cscresearchers@med.unc.edu or by phone at: 919-475-6720.

Study Team

Faculty Director

Hazel Nichols, PhD

Hazel.nichols@unc.edu

Professor, Department of Epidemiology

Cancer Epidemiology Co-Program Leader, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Nichols’ research is focused on improving cancer care by providing epidemiologic evidence to guide personal and medical decision-making around cancer risk and survivorship. Dr. Nichols has led multiple studies that address the intersection of cancer and reproductive health across the lifespan and health-related experiences after a cancer diagnosis. Her work is based in large observational studies and data resources, including the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Horizon Study, the Valuing Opinions and Insight from Cancer Experiences​ (VOICE) Study, the Carolina Endometrial Cancer Study, and the UNC Cancer Information Population Health Resource (CIPHR).

Project Manager

Adrian Gerstel

adrian@unc.edu

After graduating from Coastal Carolina University, Adrian became a middle school teacher of English and Social Studies while living in the Outer Banks. Adrian then moved to Durham NC and since 2005, has been involved in, and helped manage several cancer care related research studies at UNC Chapel Hill. His current interests include cancer care, outdoor activities, and being a dad. Adrian utilizes and develops policies and practices to protect and distribute data used for scholarly research that is collected through the UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort.

Biostatistician

Laura Farnan, PhD

laura_farnan@med.unc.edu

Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Laura came to UNC for graduate studies and has been involved in oversight of data monitoring, reporting, quality control, database design/documentation and planning/development of new and ongoing studies first as a graduate research assistant and later, as a biostatistician. She is interested in cancer research and public health related studies and utilizing Electronic Records Solutions and LCCC Cancer Cohort Data in research.

Advisory Board

This project is overseen by a multidisciplinary committee of accomplished professionals to ensure scientific administration and implementation of study goals. Committee members are as follows:

Balu, Sai

Director, Bioinformatics Core
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
School of Medicine

Basch, Ethan MD, MSc

Co-Program Leader, Cancer Prevention and Control Program
Director, Cancer Outcomes Research
Department of Medicine in Division of Hematology and Oncology
School of Medicine

Basta, Patricia PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology
UNC BioSpecimen Processing Facility

Earp, Shelton III MD

Director, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology
School of Medicine

Kim, Hong Jin MD

Division Chief and Professor of Surgery
Department of Surgery
School of Medicine

Olshan, Andy MS, PhD

Associate Director of Population Sciences, UNC Lineberger
Barbara Sorenson Hulka Distinguished Professor, Department of Epidemiology
Gillings School of Public Health

Ribisl, Kurt M PhD

Co-Program Leader, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, UNC Lineberger
Department of Health Behavior
Gillings School of Global Public Health

Rosenstein, Don L MD

Director, UNC Comprehensive Cancer Support Program
Department of Psychiatry
School of Medicine

Sandler, Robert MD, MPH

Professor
Department of Epidemiology & Medicine
Gillings School of Global Public Health

Shea, Thomas MD

Professor
Department of Clinical Research and Hematology/Oncology
School of Medicine