Cancer Mortality Index

Development and Application of a Novel Cancer-Mortality Index in Illinois: Discovering Opportunities for Public Health Intervention

M. Courtney Hughes, Ph.D.
NIU Associate Professor of Public Health
Mahdi Vaezi, Ph.D.
NIU Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology

In 2021, NIU Associate Professor of Public Health M. Courtney Hughes, NIU Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology Mahdi Vaezi and Margaret Wright, senior research scientist at the University of Illinois Cancer Center, received an Illinois Innovation Network Seed Grant to develop a cancer mortality index for the state of Illinois.

The research team will bring together available data sets tracking the incidence and mortality of the four most common cancers in the state (lung, breast, prostate and colorectal) with data about lifestyle factors, environment, neighborhood, healthcare access and utilization, as well as sociodemographic factors. By analyzing this rich collection of quantitative data using geospatial mapping and statistical analysis, the researchers will identify the geographical areas most in need of intervention, as well as the lifestyle, environmental and sociodemographic factors that most heavily influence cancer mortality risk.

The team chose to look at all four of the most common cancers, rather than focusing on a specific type of cancer, in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of cancer risk factors – many of which apply universally across different cancers. This comprehensive understanding will help the state of Illinois prioritize policies and inventions that can make the biggest positive impact on the health of Illinois residents.