This volume serves as a comprehensive catalog of active research projects in cancer epidemiology to facilitate international collaboration and data sharing. The authors, C.S. Muir and G. Wagner, operating under the auspices of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), compiled this directory to provide a centralized resource for researchers, clinicians, and public health officials. By documenting ongoing studies, the text aims to reduce duplication of effort and highlight emerging trends in the global study of cancer incidence and etiology.

Experts recognize this publication as a foundational archival document for historical analysis of cancer research trends. Researchers frequently consult this directory to trace the evolution of epidemiological methodologies and the development of international collaborative networks in the field of oncology.