My research is primarily focused on identifying genes and environmental stressors that predispose to disease and that cause disease progression. To perform this research, I have established collaborations with researchers around the world. Current studies in my laboratory are on breast, ovarian and prostate cancers and celiac disease. The hope is that this knowledge can be used to design both preventative and therapeutic strategies, and to identify at risk individuals for preventative strategies.

For breast and ovarian cancers, we are investigating reproductive and lifestyle factors including hormone replacement therapy, smoking and prophylactic surgeries and genetic factors that may interact with these lifestyle exposures for risk of developing cancer or disease progression once the cancer develops. For prostate cancer, we are investigating whether men diagnosed with prostate cancer at a young age have different underlying etiologies than men who are diagnosed at an older age. For celiac disease, we are investigating whether specific genes affect degree of symptoms and development of other autoimmune diseases in celiac disease cases and their relatives.

Highlighted below are two of the studies open to participants:


Genetic epidemiology of breast and ovarian cancers in women carrying BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations

Since the discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, we have been studying women and their families who carry deleterious mutations in these genes. The primary objectives of our research are to identify genetic and lifestyle factors that modify risks of developing cancers and that affect disease-free survival in those women who develop cancer. We hope this information can be used to assist in individual risk assessment, and to identify women to target for prevention/treatment strategies. Please click here to find out how to participate.


Celiac disease and associated autoimmune diseases

Celiac disease is a common autoimmune disease with a frequency of 1 percent. We hope to identify genes that cause the disease in order to provide the foundation for better screening, therapeutics, and prevention. We have identified multiple regions in the genome that are linked to celiac disease and we are now trying to hone in on those regions to identify the actual causal genes. We are also investigating whether there are different subtypes of celiac disease that relate to symptoms and to complicating conditions such as development of other autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. Please click here to find out how to participate.