The UGI Cancer Research Group is currently conducting projects in the United States and in several high-risk areas of the world, including China, Iran, Brazil, Kenya and Poland. Some of these projects are:
- Planning a community-based selenium fortification trial in an area at high risk for esophageal and gastric cancer
- The GEMINI case-control study of esophageal cancer in Golestan Province, Iran
- The Golestan Cohort Study of esophageal cancer in Golestan Province, Iran
- Evaluation of HPV as a causative agent for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- Evaluation of oral bacteria as a risk factor for UGI cancers
- Evaluation of gastric atrophy as a risk factor for UGI cancers
- Searching for new viruses associated with UGI cancers
- PAH exposure as a risk factor for UGI cancers
- Acetaldehyde exposure as a risk factor for UGI cancers
- Using gene methylation profiles or gene copy number variation for early detection of ESCC
- Developing a serum autoantibody test for early detection of ESCC
- Development of molecular markers for early detection of Barrett esophagus