MSPH, PhD
Professor, Gastroenterology
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Epidemiology
Area of Interest
My research interests are in the etiology, pathogenesis, and prevention of cancer. My primary area of research focuses on the gut microbiome in relation to colorectal adenomas and cancer, immunotherapy, and metabolomics. Our studies on the gut microbiome have provided critical insights into the composition and diversity of microbiota and their associations with colorectal adenomas and cancer. The findings from these have led to new collaborations and explorations of the microbiome in endometrial cancer. Other areas of interest include host-microbiome interactions, cancer biomarkers, molecular markers of prognosis, gene-environment interactions, and health disparities. Another area of interest is the diversification of the biomedical workforce. I direct the UNC-NCCU Partners Education Program, a transformative program that exposes undergraduate students from UNC, NCCU, and NC &AT to an intensive 10-week summer experience in cancer and public health research. This program highlights my commitment to fostering the development of the next generation of cancer researchers.
Awards and Honors
- UNC Translational Research on Endometrial Cancer Disparities (TREND) Leadership 2020-present
- PARTNERS U54 Research Education Program Leader, 2016-present
- American Gastroenterological Association, Research Awards Panel Member, 2015-2018
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, GI SPORE Research Award, 2005-2006
- National Cancer Institute, Career Development Award (K01 CA 93654), 2002-2006
