Professor, Epidemiology
Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch
Dr. Margaret Madeleine’s research focuses on the epidemiology of infection-related cancer. She’s particularly interested in a pathogen called human papillomavirus, or HPV — the virus that causes genital warts — and how the body’s immune response to it may be associated with cancer development and prognosis. Cancers caused by HPV include those of the cervix, throat, anus, vulva and vagina. By analyzing immune system genes known as human leukocyte antigen, or HLA, genes in women with and without cervical cancer, Dr. Madeleine and colleagues found that certain gene variants may affect women’s cancer risk by tolerating HPV infections. These findings ultimately could aid scientists as they develop vaccines to treat cancer in women already infected with HPV. As a public health researcher, Dr. Madeleine is interested in the role of HPV vaccination in preventing HPV-related cancers and the uptake of HPV vaccination in Washington state. She also studies the role of chronic inflammation on cancer risk. Factors associated with chronic inflammation include age, obesity, changes in hormone levels, viral infection and ultraviolet light exposure.
Research Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology
University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine
PhD, Epidemiology, University of Washington, 1996
MPH, Epidemiology, Yale University, 1991
Strategy to Enhance HPV Uptake (STEP UP)
Lead investigator – Dr. Margaret M. Madeleine
We aim to identify HPV vaccine uptake levels at sub-county fractions in Washington State by augmenting the vaccine registry data (from the Washington State Department of Health Immunization Information System (WA-IIS)). We will add new information on race and ethnicity, which is currently missing for >85% of WA-IIS records, by linking with birth certificate data for race and ethnicity, and also linking to income geocoding. With improved information on race, ethnicity, and income we will locate and more fully characterize underserved regions with special attention to rates of vaccination of 11-12 year old children. We will make the data widely available through a web-based dashboard. This tool will allow more accurate and flexible targeting of resources to increase HPV vaccine uptake.
Vaccine to Interrupt Progression of Vulvar and Anal Neoplasia (VIVA) Trial
Lead Investigators: Margaret M. Madeleine, Ph.D., and Anna Wald, MD, M.P.H.
The VIVA clinical trial will test whether the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can improve the health of people who have been previously diagnosed with pre-cancerous lesions. We plan to enroll men and women in the Seattle area with a history of pre-cancerous lesions, who will be randomly assigned to receive either the Gardasil vaccine or a saline solution (placebo) vaccine. Participants will be asked to come to the clinic for a total of 7 visits over 3 years. All participants will receive a total of 3 injections in the arm (Enrollment, Month 2, and Month 6) and will complete questionnaires, and have physical exams, blood draws and biopsies at the pre-cancerous lesion site.
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