DCEG News Updates
The latest news and research findings from the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.
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Shahinaz Gadalla Awarded Scientific Tenure by the NIH
In April 2022, Shahinaz Gadalla, Ph.D., M.B.Bch., was awarded scientific tenure by the NIH and promoted to senior investigator in the Clinical Genetics Branch. Dr. Gadalla is a highly collaborative, internationally recognized physician scientist with expertise in cancer epidemiology and clinical medicine. She investigates the role of genetic factors in cancer etiology and explores elements that may modify disease risk among high-risk individuals.
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Sam Mbulaiteye Named 2022 Scientist of the Year by the Lymphoma Foundation of America
Dr. Mbulaiteye, senior investigator in the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch, was recently recognized by the Lymphoma Foundation of America with their 2022 Scientist of the Year Award. As a part of this award, he directed a donation from the foundation to a study site in Uganda for medical care for children with Burkitt lymphoma.
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2021 Virtual Summer Internship Program
Thirty interns from around the U.S. joined DCEG for NCI’s first virtual summer internship program, organized collaboratively by DCEG, the Center for Cancer Training, the Frederick National Lab, and the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences.
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2022 CCR-DCEG Flex Awards Announced
Three projects were funding through the Flex Award Program, including two investigations of health disparities. Investigators from DCEG: Drs. Jiyeon Choi, Maria Teresa Landi, Tongwu Zhang, Gretchen Gierach, Aimée R. Kreimer, Lisa Mirabello, and Mark Schiffman.
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With Big Data Come Big Responsibilities
Data science provides a powerful transdisciplinary approach to data stewardship and analysis that allows researchers to take full advantage of the increasing scale of epidemiological data. DCEG investigators are implementing this approach across the Division by building collaborative data platforms and software tools for large-scale epidemiological research.
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Laura Beane Freeman Re-elected to Second Term as Women Scientist Advisor
Dr. Beane Freeman has been re-elected by her peers to a second term as DCEG Women Scientist Advisor (WSA).
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Making Strides Toward Precision Medicine for Individuals with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
LFS research conducted in the Clinical Genetics Branch reveals nuanced cancer incidence patterns, key distinctions within the LFS population, and areas for improvement in TP53 variant classification and clinical management.
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President’s Cancer Panel Addresses Gaps in Cancer Screening for All Americans
In February 2022, the Panel released their report “Closing Gaps in Cancer Screening: Connecting People, Communities, and Systems to Improve Equity and Access,” in which they identify more effective and equitable implementation of cancer screening as a significant opportunity for the National Cancer Program, to accelerate the decline in cancer deaths and, in some cases, prevent cancer through detection and removal of precancerous lesions.
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2021 NCI Director’s Award Ceremony, DCEG Staff Recognized
Several DCEG staff were honored at the 2021 NCI Director’s Awards ceremony for their efforts in advancing understanding of the etiology of multiple myeloma, non-smoking-related lung cancer; mosaic chromosomal alterations and risk of acquiring infectious disease; their work on The United States – Latin America Cancer Research Network Team; leadership on the Equity and Inclusion Program; and for years of continued service to the NCI.
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2022 NCI Director's Intramural Innovation Awards
Ian Buller, Ph.D., Erping Long, M.D., Ph.D., Zeni Wu, Ph.D., M.P.H., Tongwu Zhang, Ph.D., and Wei Zhao, Ph.D., received the 2022 NCI Director’s Innovation Awards, designed to support development of highly innovative approaches and technology aimed at significant cancer–related problems.
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Study Suggests HPV Vaccine Would Prevent Most Cervical Cancers/Precancers Across Major U.S. Racial/Ethnic Groups
Investigators from the CDC, Biostatistics Branch, and Clinical Genetics Branch collaborated on a pooled analysis of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype studies in the U.S. and showed that among major racial and ethnic groups, at least 84% of cervical precancers and 90% of invasive cancers were attributed to HPV types targeted by the 9-valent HPV vaccine. Among non-Hispanic Black women, a higher proportion of squamous cervical precancers were attributed to non-vaccine types, especially HPV 35.
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Aimée Kreimer Elected to Executive Board of International Papillomavirus Society
Dr. Kreimer was elected to the position of secretary on the Executive Board of International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) at the 2021 annual meeting. IPVS is the global authority on papillomaviruses; its mission is to contribute to the elimination of papillomavirus-related diseases.
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Constanza Camargo Receives 2022 WSA Mentoring and Leadership Award
Maria Constanza Camargo, Ph.D., Earl Stadtman tenure-track investigator in the Metabolic Epidemiology Branch, was selected for the 2022 DCEG Women Scientist Advisor’s Mentoring and Leadership Award. This honor recognizes DCEG and CCR investigators for exceptional dedication, leadership, and tireless efforts to promote and nurture NCI women scientists at all stages of their careers.
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Jonathan Hofmann Awarded Scientific Tenure by the NIH
Jonathan Hofmann, Ph.D., M.P.H., was awarded scientific tenure by the NIH and promoted to senior investigator in the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch. He is an internationally recognized leader in using molecular approaches to study the etiology of kidney cancer, multiple myeloma, and other malignancies.
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2022 Diversity Career Development Program Selections
Postdoctoral fellows Burak Altintas, M.D., in the Clinical Genetics Branch, Brittany Lord, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S., and Waruiru Mburu, Ph.D., M.P.H., in the Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch, Omonefe Omofuma, Ph.D., M.S., in the Metabolic Epidemiology Branch, and Elisa Pasqual, Ph.D., in the Radiation Epidemiology Branch were selected for the 2022 NCI Diversity Career Development Program (DCDP).
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Small Increases in Physical Activity Could Prevent Over 100,000 Deaths/Year
A research letter from Pedro Saint-Maurice, Ph.D., and Charles Mathews, Ph.D., in the Metabolic Epidemiology Branch and Barry Graubard, Ph.D., in the Biostatistics Branch, reported that if the adult population in the United States increased moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity by 10 minutes per day, more than 100,000 deaths per year could be prevented. Similar benefits were observed regardless of sex or racial and ethnic group.
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Roni Falk Retires from DCEG
Roni Falk, M.S., staff scientist in the Metabolic Epidemiology Branch (MEB) retired after 38 years of service to the NCI. Ms. Falk made critical contributions to epidemiologic studies on endogenous hormones and cancer risk.
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Gastric Autoantibodies Associated with Elevated Gastric Cancer Risk in Women
Using blood samples from a cohort of young Finnish women, Minkyo Song, M.D., Ph.D., and Charles Rabkin, M.D., in the Infections and Immunology Branch and colleagues discovered an association between the presence of gastric parietal cell antibodies, which are used to diagnose autoimmune gastritis, and elevated risk of gastric cancer. These findings may explain the recent rise in gastric cancer developing at a young age.
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Li Cheung Appointed Earl Stadtman Tenure-track Investigator
Dr. Cheung was appointed Earl Stadtman tenure-track investigator in the Biostatistics Branch. Dr. Cheung studies the etiology and natural history of cancer, particularly focusing on the development, implementation, and translation of statistical methodology to understand cancer progression and to construct actionable guidelines for the prevention and early detection of disease.
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New Risk Model Aims to Reduce Breast Cancer Disparities in Black Women
Most breast cancer risk tools were developed with data mainly from White women and don’t work as well for Black women. A new tool that estimates risk for Black women may help identify those who might benefit from earlier screening, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment.