Bhatti brings radiation exposure expertise

Dr. Parveen Bhatti, an epidemiologist who researched the link between radiation exposure and cancer at the National Cancer Institute’s Radiation Epidemiology Branch, has joined the Public Health Sciences Division.

Bhatti conducts population-based studies examining associations between occupational and environmental exposures and cancer risk. He is particularly interested in incorporating biomarkers of exposure and susceptibility to get better exposure estimates and identify subpopulations that may be particularly harmed by certain exposures.

“The epidemiologists in PHS are among the best in the world. It is a tremendous opportunity to be able to work alongside them to launch new and innovative studies,” said Bhatti, who is also part of the University of Washington’s School of Public Health and Community Medicine. “Given my interest in biomarkers, the potential to also collaborate with the world-class scientists in the Center’s other divisions is very exciting.”  

Bhatti’s skill set fills a niche in PHS, said Dr. Kathi Malone, an epidemiologist who works with him. “Parveen's strong training in biology, environmental/occupational hygiene, and environmental epidemiology brings expertise and methodology that is highly complementary to existing strengths of the epidemiology program. His expertise and interests have already sparked several new collaborative projects,” she said.

PHS epidemiologist Dr. Scott Davis agreed: “His experience in exposure assessment will be especially valuable. This is a notoriously difficult aspect of environmental studies and is a specialty not well represented in PHS. I am particularly excited about Parveen's interest in the areas I am currently working in—radiation epidemiology and the effects of circadian disruption—and look forward to his contributions.”