Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Research Program
Wei Zheng, M.D., Ph.D.
Debra L. Friedman, M.D.
Program Description
Scientific Goals
- To establish and further develop population-based resources, including large-scale cohort studies with extensive data and biospecimen repositories, for research into the etiology, prevention, control and long-term outcomes of cancer.
- To identify environmental and genetic factors that may influence the risk and outcomes of cancer.
- To evaluate biomarkers that could be informative for cancer risk assessment, early detection and prediction of adverse long-term outcomes.
- To identify the incidence, prevalence, spectrum, and severity of adverse long-term health-related outcomes following cancer diagnosis and treatment and develop interventions to prevent or ameliorate such outcomes.
- To assess the magnitude and determinants of disparities in cancer risk and survivorship associated with race, gender, geography and other group characteristics.
Areas of Research Program Expertise
The Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention & Control Program (CE) seeks to provide information to understand the etiology, control and long-term outcomes of cancer and provide mechanisms for prevention. A variety of methodologic approaches are employed to achieve these goals, with significant interaction with other VICC programs, the clinical enterprise and community outreach. One of the key strengths of the program lies in the establishment and conduct of large cohort studies with extensive exposure data and biospecimen repositories that provide population-based field laboratories accessible to the entire VICC research community for the assessment of environmental and host factors for cancer occurrence, prevention and survivorship. The prospective cohorts each have sizeable components directed at understanding the roles of diet, nutrition and other lifestyle factors, while also providing biological samples for molecular epidemiologic studies of biomarkers, including genetic susceptibility factors and gene-environment interactions in cancer risk and progression. The populations in these cohorts are diverse, allowing for the measurement of cancer health disparities and assessment of their determinants. Program members are also carrying out some of the largest case-control studies of breast cancer and colorectal adenomas and are at the forefront of identifying genetic and other biomarkers for these common tumors. While the research carried out by CE members has addressed significant issues related to the epidemiology and etiology of multiple common cancers, particularly breast and colorectal cancers, there is now an increasingly significant focus on control and long-term outcomes. Indeed, CE is focused on issues facing patients along the Cancer Control Continuum, with the overall goal to decrease the burden of cancer for 1) the healthy and at risk; 2) cancer patients undergoing therapy; and 3) survivors, by developing a well-integrated program of systematic, hypothesis-driven, interdisciplinary research, education and advocacy linked to public health and clinical care. In pursuing these objectives, CE is closely allied with other programs within the Cancer Center, including basic and clinical science programs and the three VICC SPORE grants, with increasing cross-fertilization likely to enhance research in cancer prevention and control.
Program Members
Program members and academic departmental affiliations are listed below.
- Aldrich, Melinda, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor - Blot, William J., Ph.D.
Associate Director, Cancer Prevention, Control and Population-Based Research; Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Boice, John D., Jr., Sc.D.
Professor, School of Medicine; Cancer Epidemiologist - Bond, Stewart Michael, Ph.D., R.N.
Research Associate in Nursing and Postdoctoral Fellow; John A. Hartford Foundation Claire M. Fagin Fellow; Researcher - Bruehl, Stephen P., Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Researcher - Buchowski, Maciej S., Ph.D.
Research Assoc. Professor; Researcher - Burk, Raymond F., M.D.
Professor of Medicine; Researcher - Cai, Qiuyin, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Castel, Liana DesHarnais, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine; Researcher - Compas, Bruce E., Ph.D.
Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Psychology and Human Development; Researcher - Dai, Qi, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Deming, Sandra L., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor; Researcher - Dittus, Robert S., M.D., M.P.H.
Harvie Branscomb Distinguished Professor; Albert & Bernard Werthan Professor of Medicine; Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine; Director, Center for Health Services Research; Researcher - Epplein, Meira, PhD
Assistant Professor - Fowke, Jay H., Ph.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Frangoul, Haydar, M.D.
Director, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant; Associate Professor; Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist - Friedman, Debra L., M.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics; E. Bronson Ingram Chair of Pediatric Oncology; Director, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology; Medical Director, REACH for Survivorship Program; Leader, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Cancer Control and Prevention Program; Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist - Gilmer, Mary Jo, Ph.D., M.B.A., R.N.
Associate Professor; Researcher - Griffin, Marie R., M.D., M.P.H.
Professor; Researcher - Griffith, Derek M., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Health & Society; Researcher - Haman, Kirsten, PhD
Research Assistant Professor; Psychologist - Hargreaves, Margaret, Ph.D.
Professor; Researcher - Hartmann, Katherine E., M.D., Ph.D.
Vice Chair for Research; Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Associate Professor of Medicine; Researcher - Kallianpur, Asha R., M.D. , MPH
Assistant Professor; Researcher - Long, Jirong, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Malow, Beth, M.D.
Professor of Neurology; Director, Vanderbilt Sleep Disorders Center; Researcher - McLaughlin, Joseph K., Ph.D.
Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Murphy, Barbara A., M.D.
Professor of Medicine; Director, Cancer Supportive Care Program; Director, Head and Neck Research Program; Medical Oncologist - Ness, Reid M., M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Gastroentorology, Hepatology and Nutrition); Researcher - Oates, John A., M.D.
Thomas F Frist Sr Prof Med; Prof Pharmacology; Researcher - Peterson, Neeraja, M.D., M.Sc.
Assistant Professor (Internal Medicine); Researcher - Raskin, Leon, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Assistant Professor of Medicine; Researcher - Ray, Wayne A., Ph.D.
Prof Preventive Med; Researcher - Ridner, Sheila H., M.S.H.S.A. ,M.S.N., Ph.D., R.N.
Associate Professor; Researcher - Roberts, L. Jackson, M.D.
Prof Pharmacology & Med; Researcher - Sahasrabuddhe, Vikrant V. (Vik), MBBS, MPH, DrPH
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics; Researcher - Sanderson, Maureen, Ph.D.
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Meharry); Researcher - Schlundt, David, Ph.D.
Assoc Prof Psych; Researcher - Shrubsole, Martha J., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Shu, Xiao-Ou, M.D., MPH, Ph.D.
Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Signorello, Lisa, Sc.D.
Associate Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Sohl Robinette, Stephanie Jean, Ph.D.
Research Instructor; Researcher - Ukoli, Flora, MBBS, MPH
Associate Professor of Surgery (Meharry); Researcher - Wells, Nancy, DNSc., R.N.
Research Professor of Nursing; Director, VUMC Nursing; Researcher - Wen, Wanqing, M.D.
Research Associate Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Wolff, Steven N., M.D.
Professor and Chair, Meharry Department of Internal Medicine; Researcher - Yang, Gong, M.D., MPH
Research Associate Professor; Cancer Epidemiologist - Zheng, Wei, M.D., Ph.D, M.P.H.
Professor and Chief, Division of Epidemiology; Director, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center; Ingram Professor of Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiologist
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