DCEG News Updates
The latest news and research findings from the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.
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Dr. Peter Kraft has been appointed Director of the Trans-Divisional Research Program (TDRP). Dr. Kraft is an internationally recognized leader in both biostatistics and the molecular epidemiology of cancer.
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In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a large multi-ethnic cohort with nearly two decades of follow-up, Dr. Wayne Lawrence and colleagues observed an association between discrimination and mortality across all racial/ethnic groups but strongest among Black participants.
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Dr. Marie-Josèphe Horner, staff scientist in the Trans-Divisional Research Program, was re-elected to a second three-year term as Women Scientist Advisor Staff Scientist Representative.
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Stephen Chanock, Jackie Lavigne, and others from NCI and Queen's University Belfast (QUB) participated in the joint symposium entitled, “Cancer Knows No Borders – Celebrating Tripartite Cooperation to Enhance Cancer Research,” on the NIH campus and online.
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Montserrat Garcia-Closas and Barry Graubard receive the ASA 2022 Jeanne E. Griffith Mentoring Award.
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Dr. Courtney Dill, postdoctoral fellow in the Biostatistics Branch, was selected for the 2023 Janssen Scholars of Oncology Diversity Engagement Program.
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Martha S. Linet, M.D., M.P.H., Scientist Emerita, delivered the Lauriston S. Taylor Lecture on Radiation Protection and Measurements. The lecture is given annually by distinguished scientists selected by the Board of Directors of NCRP on topics of importance to the radiation research community. Dr. Linet spoke about ‘Cancer Risks and Public Health Issues Across the Radiation Frequency Spectrum: The Long and Short of It.” A summary of her presentation will be published in the journal Health Physics later this year.
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In March 2023, Dr. Bin Zhu was awarded scientific tenure by the NIH and promoted to senior investigator in the Biostatistics Branch. Dr. Zhu is an internationally recognized expert in the development of statistical methods for increasing the understanding of the etiology of cancer.
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Drs. Freedman, Sinha, and Ward were elected to the American Epidemiological Society (AES), an honorary society dedicated to epidemiology.
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Meta-analysis led by Dr. Mark Little finds elevated risk of cardiovascular disease associated with moderate and low doses of radiation, suggesting need for extra vigilance.
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Emily Pearce, predoctoral fellow in the Clinical Genetics Branch, received the 2023 NIH Graduate Student Research Award for her poster presentation at the 19th Annual NIH Graduate Student Research Symposium in the Behavioral Science and Psychology category.
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Several awards were announced at the February hybrid Town Hall Meeting. They included Unsung Hero, Distinguished Scientific Service, Outstanding Paper for a Staff Scientist/Staff Clinician and Outstanding Paper for a Fellow.
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In 2023, the NCI SEER Program celebrates its 50th anniversary. DCEG is grateful for this incredible NCI resource which underpins nearly everything we do. Data from SEER are central to the day-to-day work of researchers in DCEG.
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In a study of 82,000 UK adults, Dr. Eleanor Watts in the Metabolic Epidemiology Branch observed that higher levels of physical activity were associated with a decreased risk of hospitalization from nine common conditions, including colon polyps and urinary tract infections.
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DFAREs recognize the outstanding scientific research performed by DCEG fellows and provides funding for travel to scientific meetings or conferences.
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NCI Director’s Intramural Innovation awards support development of highly innovative approaches and technology aimed at significant cancer–related problems. Winners received one-time awards to be used in fiscal year 2023.
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2022 NIH Director’s Award recognized DCEG staff for their efforts in administering NIH COVID vaccines.
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In a large cohort study, Dr. Sarah Jackson and colleagues found that transgender and gender diverse adults were at increased risk of overall mortality compared to cisgender adults.
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Dr. Figueroa has rejoined DCEG as a tenured, senior investigator in the Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch to research risk factors associated with breast cancer incidence and mortality in diverse populations.
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Dr. Eric Engels, senior investigator and director of the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch, was recognized as a 2022 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He is one of 505 scientists, engineers, and innovators elected for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements throughout their careers.