Cancer, Reproductive, Cardiovascular, and Other Chronic Disease Prevention Program

Program Goals

A key leadership role for the CRC is the development of goals. The CRC is in the process of updating goals to guide NIOSH research and partnership efforts over the next decade.

NIOSH Program Portfolio Approach

NIOSH organizes its research, guidance, information, and service efforts into specific programs that can be readily communicated and strategically governed and evaluated. Ten sector programs represent industrial sectors, and seven cross-sector programs are organized around health and safety outcomes. There are also numerous core and specialty programs that represent special emphasis areas, methodological approaches, core activities and legislatively mandated programs.

The sector programs intersect with cross-sector programs in a matrix-like fashion, with relevant core and specialty programs playing a supporting role. For example, an Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Program goal of reducing farm-related deaths and injuries due to tractor rollovers and trucks would likely be a shared goal with the Traumatic Injury Prevention Program and if appropriate would be adopted by both programs. This approach provides an added advantage and will allow multiple Programs to work towards accomplishment of intersecting NIOSH goals.

Below are the current goals for the Nation developed during the second decade of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA).

CRC Program Strategic Goals for Intramural Research

Researchers use CRC research to further investigate agents which may be occupational carcinogens.

Cancer

• Strategic Goal 1: Reduce the incidence of work-related cancer
  • Intermediate Goal 1.1: Safety and health professionals and standard-setting groups (including government agencies and international bodies) use CRC research to form new guidelines and standards to minimize worker exposure to occupational carcinogens.
  • Intermediate Goal 1.2: Researchers use CRC research to further investigate agents which may be occupational carcinogens.

Reproductive Health

• Strategic Goal 3: Reduce the incidence of work-related adverse reproductive outcomes
  • Intermediate Goal 3.1: Safety and health professionals and standard-setting groups (including government agencies and international bodies) use CRC research to form new guidelines and standards to minimize workplace exposures and workplace factors related to adverse outcomes such as infertility, pregnancy loss, pregnancy complications, and congenital malformations.
  • Intermediate Goal 3.2: Researchers use CRC research to further investigate agents which may be related to adverse outcomes such as infertility, pregnancy loss, pregnancy complications, and congenital malformations.

Cardiovascular Disease

• Strategic Goal 4: Reduce the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular disease among workers
  • Intermediate Goal 4.1: Researchers and other occupational safety and health professionals use CRC research to further investigate workplace agents or workplace factors which may be associated with cardiovascular disease, and to minimize exposure to such agents.

Other Chronic Disease

• Strategic Goal 5: Reduce the incidence and mortality of other chronic diseases, including (but not limited to), work-related neurologic (cerebrovascular) and renal disease
  • Intermediate Goal 5.1: Researchers and other occupational safety and health professionals use CRC research to further investigate agents which may be associated with occupational health effects such as neurologic and renal disease, and to minimize exposure to such agents.

CRC Program Priority Goals for Extramural Research

The Cancer, Reproductive, and Cardiovascular Diseases Program selected the following priority goals as particularly suited for extramural research during fiscal year 2017:

• Strategic Goal 1: Reduce the incidence of work-related cancer.
• Strategic Goal 3: Reduce the incidence of work-related adverse reproductive outcomes.
• Strategic Goal 4: Reduce the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular disease among workers.

Those seeking NIOSH grants to conduct studies related to the CRC are invited to view the current funding opportunities.