Mathematical Statistician National Cancer Institute Rockville, Maryland, United States
Disclosure(s):
Kirsten A. Herrick, PhD, MSc: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: More than 15% of modifiable risk factors for cancer are related to diet (i.e., excess body weight, alcohol consumption, low fruit/vegetable, processed meat, low dietary fiber, red meat, and low dietary calcium). Often, to study diet/health relationships we rely on self-report instruments, like 24-hour recalls (24HR). Ignoring measurement error in these instruments can lead to spurious results and incorrect conclusions about associations. Different analytic methods for estimating usual intake and coping with measurement error have been developed over the past 3 decades. The NCI method evolved from the other methods and represents the most advanced science on how to cope with measurement error in dietary assessment; however, it is computationally complex and is rarely taught in nutritional epidemiology masters or doctoral level courses. The goal of this Summer Institute is to support the research community and build analytic capacity for the NCI Method.
Methods: The NCI will offer a one-week Summer Institute from 8/25/25-8/29/25 at the Shady Grove campus in Maryland. The course will include structured lectures to introduce concepts and methods with time for discussion and questions. Additionally, there will be one-on-one consultation sessions available where attendees can speak with the presenters about their specific data problem. Opportunities will be provided for virtual attendees as well.
Results: The goal of this Summer Institute is to create new “NCI Methods Experts” in the research community that will permeate academic institutions and editorial review boards of nutrition journals. Additionally, feedback from this first institute will inform future Summer Institutes, including frequency, size, and topic inclusion. The curriculum covered will serve as a foundation for the development of an e-book and webinar for those unable to attend the Summer Institute and support educational efforts in academic settings.
Conclusions: The Summer Institute on Diet and Cancer: the NCI Method Boot Camp is a first step to fill the knowledge gap among the nutrition community regarding how to best study diet/health relationships. Appropriate application of the NCI method to diet/health relationships will advance nutrition science by reducing spurious associations.
