Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri” (MN), the Laboratory of Epidemiology (Professor Carlo La Vecchia and Dr Cristina Bosetti) have extensive experience and expertise in the epidemiology of several common cancers, including colon cancer and of cardiovascular diseases, both through a descriptive and an analytical approach. Among the activities of descriptive epidemiology are the analysis of temporal trends and of geographical distribution of mortality from cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other selected conditions, in Italy and Europe.

The analytic epidemiology includes the conduct and analysis of observational case-control studies, aiming at identifying and better quantifying the association between genetic factors (family history), selected lifestyle habits (diet, tobacco, alcohol, etc,), use of exogenous hormones and exposure to various substances and the development of various forms of cancers and cardiovascular diseases. They have published extensively in peer-reviewed journals on major risk factors of colon cancer, including lifestyle habits and environmental exposures. Their main contribution will be to WP 7 by conducting a case control study on colon cancer.