Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government

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

If you would like to reproduce some or all of this content, see Reuse of NCI Information for guidance about copyright and permissions. In the case of permitted digital reproduction, please credit the National Cancer Institute as the source and link to the original NCI product using the original product's title; e.g., “Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch Research Areas was originally published by the National Cancer Institute.”

Email