PhD
Professor, Pathology and Lab Medicine
Gillings School of Global Public Health
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Epidemiology
Breast Cancer
Area of Interest
Melissa Troester, PhD, professor of Epidemiology with joint appointment in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, leads the CBCS3 project with Shelton Earp, MD, director of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is co-leader of the UNC Lineberger Center Scientific Program in Cancer Epidemiology and the director of the UNC Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility.
Her research focuses on biomarker development and validation, genomic methods, epidemiologic methods, and breast cancer. She has been leading Carolina Breast Cancer Study molecular research since 2012 and has more than a decade of experience working with genomic data and molecular biology of breast cancer risk and progression.
Awards and Honors
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
- Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation
- University Cancer Research Fund
News and Stories

Leading investigators offer ‘highly scientific, but patient-focused’ talks on women’s cancers at symposium
UNC Lineberger’s 46th annual Scientific Symposium brought together more than 350 people in person and virtually to hear talks on the latest research on women’s cancers.

UNC Lineberger researchers present findings at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
UNC Lineberger researchers and colleagues will be presenting the latest findings from basic, translational and clinical studies at the 45th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Susan G. Komen announces $1.5 million in grants for metastatic breast cancer research
Susan G. Komen has awarded three grants in support of metastatic breast cancer research as part of a collaboration between Komen, UNC Lineberger and Duke Cancer Institute, called the Susan G. Komen Metastatic Breast Cancer Collaborative Research Initiative.

$1 million gift furthers landmark study focused on reducing breast cancer disparities, barriers to high quality care
Rich Preyer and Marilyn Jacobs Preyer of Hillsborough, North Carolina, have donated $1 million to support the latest phase of UNC Lineberger’s Carolina Breast Cancer Study.