Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch Research Areas
IIB conducts epidemiologic research on 1) infectious agents with established or postulated associations with cancer and 2) immune variation relevant for cancer risk, including conditions such as severe immunosuppression, autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and genetic factors. The Branch focuses on etiologic studies and looks for opportunities to translate those findings to cancer prevention, risk stratification, screening, and clinical medicine.
IIB research has broad relevance in reducing health disparities since certain infections related to cancer disproportionately affect people living in lower- and middle-income countries and disadvantaged groups within the United States. Approximately 15% of all cancers worldwide (23% in developing countries and 9% in developed countries) are attributable to infectious agents. Immunity and inflammation also play an important role in the etiology of cancer.
Research Areas
- Biliary Cancer
- Burkitt Lymphoma
- Descriptive Epidemiology
- Gastric Cancer
- HIV-Associated Malignancies
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
- Interferon Lambda 4 (IFNL4)
- Liver Cancer
- Nasopharyngeal Cancer
- Transplant-Associated Malignancies