PhD
Professor of Pathology and Lab Medicine
Gillings School of Global Public Health
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Epidemiology
Breast Cancer
Area of Interest
The Troester laboratory studies breast cancer and benign breast disease using genomic, molecular pathology, and epidemiologic approaches. Much of Troester’s research focus has been on understanding interactions between the environment and breast genomics. Troester directs the Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility and has led a Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program. She is Co-Principal Investigator on the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS), a study of breast cancer epidemiology and biology focused on understanding breast cancer disparities and she is Co-Leader of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Cancer Epidemiology program. She has extensive experience working in consortia, including the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk (AMBER) consortium, the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC), and the Cancer Genome Atlas project. A common theme throughout her work is integrating genomic data and molecular biology with human studies of breast cancer etiology 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
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.
Renowned breast cancer researcher Troester named Komen Scholar
Susan G. Komen has appointed UNC Lineberger’s Melissa Troester, PhD, to this year’s class of Komen Scholars.
