Principal Investigators in the Clinical Genetics Branch (CGB)

Three-dimensional and simplified female, male, and juvenile human figures connected by lines and spheres on a blue background 

Meet the principal investigators in the Clinical Genetics Branch (CGB) and learn about their research programs.

Meet Current Fellows in CGB.

  • Headshot of Philip Castle

    Philip E. Castle, Ph.D., M.P.H.

    Philip E. Castle, Ph.D., M.P.H., is an internationally recognized expert in the field of cervical cancer prevention. Dr. Castle has led and contributed critical insights to the design and conduct of randomized trials and cohort studies of the effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccination, screening regimens, and the natural history of cervical precancer and cancer.

  • Headshot of Anil Chaturvedi

    Anil Chaturvedi, Ph.D.

    Dr. Chaturvedi studies the molecular epidemiology of two common cancers—head and neck cancers and lung cancers. His work addresses research questions on etiology and natural history that have high potential for translation into efforts for screening and early detection of head and neck cancers and lung cancers.

  • Headshot of Shahinaz Gadalla

    Shahinaz Gadalla, M.D., Ph.D.

    Dr. Shahinaz Gadalla’s research focuses on the role of genetic factors in cancer etiology and on identifying genetic and environmental risk factors among individuals at high risk of developing cancer.

  • Photograph of Alisa Goldstein

    Alisa M. Goldstein, Ph.D.

    Dr. Alisa Goldstein studies the genetic epidemiology of several cancers, including melanoma and upper gastrointestinal cancer. She integrates epidemiologic, genetic, clinical, and molecular methodologies to understand the role of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of these cancers.

  • Payal Khincha, M.B.B.S., M.S.H.S.

    Payal Khincha, M.B.B.S., M.S.H.S. studies inherited cancer predisposition syndromes, particularly those that can affect children.

  • Headshot of Lisa McReynolds

    Lisa J. McReynolds, M.D., Ph.D.

    Lisa J. McReynolds, M.D., Ph.D., focuses on inherited predisposition to hematopoietic malignancies, incorporating genomics with epidemiology to understand their causes. She is a Lasker Clinical Research Scholar in the Clinical Genetics Branch.

  • photograph of Lisa Mirabello

    Lisa Mirabello, Ph.D., M.S.

    Dr. Lisa Mirabello's research program is focused on genetic susceptibility to pediatric cancer (especially osteosarcoma, the most common primary, malignant bone tumor among children and adolescents. She is also studying a large number of whole-genome sequences of carcinogenic HPV types from precancer/cancer cases and controls to understand the viral genetic basis of HPV carcinogenesis, and why HPV 16 is so much more carcinogenic than closely related HPV types.

  • Michael Sargen, Assistant Clinical Investigator

    Michael R. Sargen, M.D.

    Dr. Sargen, Lasker Clinical Research Scholar in CGB, studies the clinical, histopathologic, and genetic characteristics of melanoma-prone families. He also uses epidemiologic and molecular approaches to investigate risk factors for sebaceous carcinoma and other rare cutaneous malignancies in children and adults.

  • Headshot of Sharon Savage

    Sharon A. Savage, M.D.

    Sharon Savage's current research is focused on the genetic and molecular epidemiology of telomere biology, pediatric cancer etiology, and inherited cancer predisposition syndromes such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

  • Headshot of Mark Schiffman

    Mark Schiffman, M.D., M.P.H.

    Mark Schiffman plans and conducts long-term molecular epidemiologic studies of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer, taking what he learned from years of studying HPV natural history and etiology and applying it to the development of prevention methods and clinical management.

  • Headshot of Douglas Stewart

    Douglas Stewart, M.D.

    Douglas Stewart's major research interests are the adult manifestations of RAS-pathway disorders (especially NF1 and Legius syndrome), next-generation sequencing of NF1-associated tumors, and the characterization of novel features of NF1. He is also study director/principal investigator for the Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB) DICER1 Cancer Study.

  • Headshot of Nicolas Wentzensen

    Nicolas Wentzensen, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.

    Dr. Wentzensen leads a research program focused on the molecular etiology and prevention of cervical and other human papillomavirus-related cancers, and ovarian and endometrial cancers. He is the Deputy Director of the Clinical Genetics Branch, Head of the Clinical Epidemiology Unit, and Principal Investigator for the Connect for Cancer Prevention Study.