Zuo-Feng Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. Director	Curtis Eckhert, Ph.D. Associate Director

Overview:

The Molecular Epidemiology and Carcinogenesis Program Area seeks to develop a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the interactions between environmental exposures and molecular genetic alterations that affect the risk and progression of cancer and apply this knowledge to improve cancer prevention and control. The program will emphasize the use of new approaches, including gene expression profiling and proteomics in concert with epidemiological and clinical studies.  

Goals:

• Understand the interaction between environmental exposures and molecular genetic alterations
• Apply molecular genetic insights to cancer etiology, prevention and control research and practice
• Use molecular epidemiology to understand invasive cancer, pre-malignant lesions, chemoprevention trials and molecular markers for early detection, diagnosis and prognosis
• Understand carcinogenesis through new approaches such as microarray DNA genechips, gene expression profiling and proteomics in concert with epidemiological and clinical studies

Meetings and Events:

• Monthly Seminar on Molecular Epidemiology and Gene-Environmental Interaction
• Symposium on Molecular Epidemiology and Gene-Environmental Interaction
• Post- and Pre-doctoral T32 Training Program in Cancer Molecular Epidemiology
• Lectures (UCLA and other institutions)

Leadership:

Dr. Zuo-Feng Zhang, director of the Molecular Epidemiology and Carcinogenesis Program Area, focuses his research on the molecular epidemiology of cancers of the bladder, prostate, esophagus, stomach, head and neck and cervix. Other research interests include nutrition and cancer, epidemiology of second primary cancer, methodological issues in the use of tumor markers in cancer epidemiology and progression and survival of cancer.

Associate Director Dr. Curtis Eckhert’s research is focused on understanding how boron, a metalloid element that is present in high concentrations in fruits and vegetables, reduces the risk of prostate cancer in American men. His research also extends to understanding mechanisms involved in other biological functions of boron such as post-fertilization cell cleavage and maintenance of the adult retina.