Epidemiology Research
Our studies ask important public health and clinical questions about environmental, socioeconomic, lifestyle, genetic, and other factors that may contribute to the incidence, recurrence, and mortality of different cancers, as well as health and quality of life afterward. We collaborate with researchers locally and across the world to reduce the burden of cancer through our work in three key areas of cancer epidemiology research: Etiology, Survivorship, and Intervention.
Research Areas
Etiology
Our etiologic research focuses on understanding the causes of cancer and other related diseases. These studies examine exposures such as nutrition, obesity, alcohol consumption, medication use, air pollution, genetics, and many others for their relationship with the risk of developing cancer. Our scientists are working to generate the knowledge and evidence needed for the development of new risk prediction and prevention strategies.
Intervention
Intervention studies build on promising etiologic and survivorship research findings and test their capacity for reducing risks and improving outcomes. Interventions under study include lifestyle modifications such as diet and physical activity, methods for delivery of survivorship care plans, HPV vaccines, vitamin D, and others. Using rigorous randomized trial designs, we seek to generate a high level of evidence for new strategies to reduce the burden of cancer.
Survivorship
Our survivorship research includes studies of how lifestyle, environmental, genetic, and other factors contribute to the risk of adverse cancer outcomes such as recurrence and second primary cancer and investigations of the long-term effects of cancer and therapies on the overall health and quality of life of cancer survivors. Our studies seek to provide recommendable patient and clinical practices that can improve the health and quality of life of cancer patients.
Cancer Epidemiology Research Cooperative (CERC)
The CERC is a long-standing research unit comprised of epidemiologists, scientific and administrative support staff, data analysts, IT staff, project coordinators, interviewers, medical record abstractors, and trainees. Research studies focus on identifying the causes of cancer, factors associated with survival, the effects of cancer and cancer treatment on quality of life and overall health and testing strategies for prevention for many different types of cancer including breast, prostate, colorectal, ovarian, endometrial, and testicular cancers.
Epidemiology Program Research Projects
Advancing our Understanding of the Etiologies and Mutational Landscapes of Basal-like, Luminal A, and Luminal B Breast Cancer
Public Health Sciences, EpidemiologyAddressing research gaps in the molecular subtypes of breast cancer, we are taking a multidisciplinary approach to study the epidemiology and mutational landscapes of basal-like, luminal A, and luminal B tumors.
Funding Agency: DOD
Contact: Sarah Taylor, sataylor@fredhutch.org
Bacterial Correlates of Colorectal Cancer Subtypes and Survival
Public Health Sciences, EpidemiologyScientists identify differences in the bacterial community in tumors for patients with etiologically-distinct subgroups of colorectal cancer, and how those differences relate to survival.
Funding Agency: National Cancer Institute
Contact: Amanda Phipps, aphipps@fredhutch.org
Breast, Colorectal and Ovary Cancer Clinical Validation Center
Public Health Sciences, EpidemiologyAfter identifying early detection biomarkers for each of these cancers, we are conducting phase 2 and phase 3 validation studies directed towards clearly defined clinical applications.
Funding Agency: National Cancer Institute
Contact: Chris Li, cili@fredhutch.org
Case-control study of ovarian cancer (DOVE)
- Mary Anne Rossing, Ph.D., D.V.M.
- Holly Harris, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Using two ovarian cancer case-control studies, scientists are trying to determine why some women develop ovarian tumors and others do not.
Funding Agency: National Cancer Institute
Contact: Holly Harris, hharris@fredhutch.org
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Care in the Tyrosine Kinase Era
Public Health Sciences, EpidemiologyUsing the Optum Labs/United Healthcare database, investigators review healthcare use patterns of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients treated in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor era.
Funding Agency: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Contact: Nancy Blythe, nblythe@fredhutch.org
Colocare Study
Public Health Sciences, EpidemiologyColoCare is a research study for people newly diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer. It includes researchers, doctors, nurses, and patients working together to learn more about improving health after a cancer diagnosis.
Funding Agency: National Cancer Institute
Contact: Kathy Vickers, kvickers@fredhutch.org
Coordinating Center for the Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening PRocess (PROSPR) Consortium
Public Health Sciences, EpidemiologyBuilding on the success of PROSPR I, PROSPR II investigators from a variety of disciplines and institutions are conducting research to improve the screening of cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers.
Funding Agency: National Cancer Institute
Contact: Marty Stiller, mstiller@fredhutch.org
Dexrazoxane and Prevention of Anthracycline-Related Cardiomyopathy in Childhood Cancer Survivors
Public Health Sciences, EpidemiologyScientists are determining the efficacy of dexrazoxane (DRZ) in reducing anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy among participants in DRZ phase 3 therapeutic trials.
Funding Agency: National Cancer Institute
Contact: Nancy Blythe, nblythe@fredhitch.org
Dietary Intervention to Reduce Pain in People with Endometriosis
Public Health Sciences, EpidemiologyThis randomized controlled trial will investigate a 12-week dietary intervention based on the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, examining its effects on pain, quality of life, and inflammatory biomarkers among women with laparoscopically-confirmed endometriosis. The study results will help us identify evidence-based, modifiable, dietary factors that decrease pain and improve quality of life among women with endometriosis.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health/NINR
Contact: Nancy Blythe, endostudy@fredhutch.org
Echocardiographic Change in Cancer Survivors at Risk for Cardiomyopathy
Public Health Sciences, EpidemiologyScientists are comparing the echocardiographic changes in left ventricular function and geometry for survivors of childhood cancer who experienced cardiomyopathy to those of survivors who did not.
Funding Agency: National Cancer Institute
Contact: Nancy Blythe, nblythe@fredhutch.org