"Through collaborative science that integrates epidemiologic approaches with cutting edge molecular technology we have the potential to make major advances in preventing and treating cancer."
— Dr. Christopher Li
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Li
Christopher Li, MD, PhD
- Professor, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch
- Vice President, Faculty Development, Fred Hutch
- Associate Director, Faculty Development and Advancement, Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium
- Helen G. Edson Endowed Chair for Breast Cancer Research, Fred Hutch
- Affiliate Investigator, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
- Research Associate Professor, Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine
Background
Dr. Christopher Li is an epidemiologist who specializes in identifying breast cancer risk factors. He has helped detect important connections between breast cancer and lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical activity, and consuming alcohol and certain medications. He also investigates the causes of disparities in cancer outcomes and is at the forefront of efforts to ensure cancer research benefits all patients, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, income, education or geography. Dr. Li studies breast cancer risk in young women and led the world’s largest study of risk factors for developing and surviving triple-negative breast cancer, a rare but particularly aggressive subtype. He also combines laboratory research with big data to find patterns that predict whether a patient’s breast cancer is likely to recur. Dr. Li also seeks to identify blood-based biomarkers that signal early stages of different breast cancer subtypes to increase the chances of detecting the disease earlier. He co-leads Fred Hutch’s award-winning cancer registry, the Cancer Surveillance System database, which tracks cancer incidence and survival in 13 Washington counties. Researchers everywhere use the Hutch registry data to identify cancer trends, find causes and track outcomes.
Education
PhD, Epidemiology, University of Washington, 2002
MPH, Epidemiology, University of Washington, 2000
MD, University of California, San Francisco, 2000
BS, Biological Science, Stanford University, 1995