Advancing Head & Neck Cancer Early Detection Research (AHEAD)

Background

Head and neck cancers are the sixth most common type of cancers worldwide, and more than 65,000 people are diagnosed each year in the United States. Despite prevention efforts and improved treatment, the overall five-year survival rate for head and neck cancer patients remains around 40%-50%. The low survival rate and low quality of life for patients are often due to limited detection and interventions for early disease.

NIDCR’s Response

In response, NIDCR and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) issued the Advancing Head and Neck Cancer Early Detection Research (AHEAD) notice of funding opportunity, or NOFO (formerly known as a funding opportunity announcement). The NOFO invited applications focused on early detection by applying molecular, cellular, and multi-omics signatures to clinical studies to distinguish benign from premalignant lesions and to identify prognostic signatures of the transformation from premalignant to malignant lesions.

The partnership between NIDCR and NCI enables AHEAD investigators to access valuable NIDCR and NCI resources to enhance their research capabilities, including NCI’s Early Detection Research Network, a national hub that provides infrastructure for discovery and validation of biomarkers for early cancer detection.

NIDCR-Funded Awards