University of Hawaii Cancer Center researchers recently received more than $5.5 million in grants from the National Cancer Institute for research into areas including e-cigarettes and bladder cancer.

Pallav Pokhrel, assistant professor in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program, received a five-year, $2.5 million grant to study the impact of e-cigarette marketing on the beliefs, attitudes and behaviors of young adults. Dr. Charles Rosser, professor and director of the Clinical Trials Office and director of the Clinical and Translational Research Program, won a five-year grant totaling more than $3 million to research a urine-based bladder cancer detection test that could determine those at risk for the disease.

In addition, the Cancer Center won a four-year award totaling more than $1.3 million to investigate the role of bacteria in colorectal cancer.

The UH Cancer Center, along with 68 other NCI-designated cancer centers, competes each year for 75 percent to 85 percent of the NCI’s $4.8 billion annual grants.