Funder and Award: US-DoD (Department of Defence), Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Health Equity Research and Outcomes Improvement Consortium (HEROIC) Award
Title: HEROIC Prostate Cancer Precision Health (PCaPH) Africa1K: Powering Precision Health to improve Prostate Cancer Outcomes in Africa (2022 PC210168 and 2024 PC230673)
Principal Director: Professor Vanessa Hayes (University of Sydney)
Co-Principal Investigators:
Professor Gail Prins (University of Illinois at Chicago, USA)
Professor Peter M. Ngugi (University of Nairobi, KENYA)
Frozen Co-Principal Investigator:
Professor Riana Bornman (University of Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA)
Consortia membership: Australia: University of Sydney;; United States: University of Illinois at Chicago, Boston University, Cornell New York, Emory University; Nigeria: University of Calabar; Belgium: KU Leuven; Botswana: Botswana International University of Science and Technology; Denmark: Aarhus University; Namibia: University of Namibia; United Kingdom: University of East Anglia Norwich, University of Manchester, Institute of Cancer Research London.
Frozen membership: South Africa: University of Pretoria, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, University of Venda, University of Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services
Vision: Prostate cancer health equity for African men – close the gap.
Overview: HEROIC PCaPH Africa1K through African partnership and co-leadership, will merge cutting-edge multi-omic big-data science with grassroots knowledge, including African-relevant clinical and lifestyle data, to generate not only the largest (1,000 patients) and currently only prostate cancer resource of its kind for Africa, but through its innovative single model approach, discover genetic and non-genetic factors contributing to significant lethal disease within Africa, creating a roadmap for scientific, clinical and social impact. The Consortium has four over-riding projects.
Resource Project
Overview: Established on the success of the SAPCS, the members of the resource project aim to determine the disease burden of prostate cancer within their respective regions. The overall objective, to provide the resources (from lifestyle and clinical data to biobanked biological specimens) aimed at providing region-specific recommendations for clinical management, driving local policy and awareness. Regional studies aim to identify both modifiable environmental or lifestyle risk factors for prostate cancer and aggressive disease, as well as molecular-genetic factors and mechanisms associated with prostate cancer risk, adverse outcomes and ethnic-based health disparities, to develop strategy for diagnosing, treating and preventing lethal disease.
- Southern African Prostate Cancer Study (SAPCS)
Initiated in 2008 with seed funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of South Africa, the SAPCS was established to provide a collaborative research infrastructure for clinical, epidemiological, and molecular-genetic studies aimed at understanding the aetiology of prostate cancer ethnic-based health disparities. In 2022, SAPCS became a co-funded member of HEROIC PCaPH Africa1K. Focused on South Africa and Namibia, SAPCS is managed out of the University of Pretoria, in partnership with the University of Sydney. The management team includes Clinical Director Prof Riana Bornman (University of Pretoria), Scientific Director Prof Vanessa Hayes (University of Sydney) and Urological Director Prof Shingai Mutambirwa (Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa). SAPCS-Namibia is Directed by Dr Hagen E.A. Förtsch (University of Namibia Medical School)
- East African Prostate Cancer Study (EAPCS)
Initiated in 2018, the EAPCS is managed out of the University of Nairobi in Kenya, in partnership with the University of Sydney in Australia. A co-funded member of HEROIC PCaPH Africa1K (since 2022), Directed by Prof Peter M. Ngugi, (University of Pretoria), Prof Vanessa Hayes provides Scientific Directorship (University of Sydney).
- Chicago Prostate Cancer Study (ChiPCS)
Initiated in 2022 as a con-founded member of HEROIC PCaPH Africa1K, ChiPCS is managed out of the University of Illinois at Chicago, with a focus on African American men. Directed by Professor Gail Prins, under the urological partnership of Dr Daniel Moreira and Dr Ikenna Madueke, ChiPCS is a partner study of the University of Sydney.
Urology & Pathology Project
Lead: Professor Peter M. Ngugi, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Overview: Vanessa draft
Genomics & Data Science Project
Lead: Professor Vanessa Hayes, University of Sydney, Australia
Overview: Vanessa draft
Exposomics & Endocrinology Project
Lead: Professor Gail Prins, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
Over view: Vanessa draft
Public health & Awareness Project
Lead: Professor Riana Bornman, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Overview: Vanessa draft