Epidemiology

Research in the chronic disease epidemiology cluster addresses the etiology, prevention, distribution, natural history, and treatment outcomes of chronic health disorders, including cancer, cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, gastrointestinal and pulmonary disease, and obesity.

Work within this cluster runs the gamut from studies on health disparities among minority groups in the Northern Manhattan community to major, large-scale studies internationally. Most studies are highly interdisciplinary, involving molecular epidemiology, psychosocial factors, lifestyle, and, most recently, an increasing interest in health economics and financial issues, such as access to care.

The future of our work in the chronic disease epidemiology cluster lies in interdisciplinarity, as we increase our understanding of the interplay of risk factors at multiple levels, from genetic to macrosocial, as well as the relationships between infectious and chronic disease. In this vein we
continue to develop innovative collaborative research and training programs with our partners in research, clinical care, and public health practice across the University and around the world.

Selected Projects

Breast cancer studies

The Metropolitan Breast Cancer Study has collected DNA and cancer data on hundreds of families with breast cancer to study breast cancer genes. The Long Island Breast Cancer Study is a large population-based case-control study that aims to uncover risk factors, especially environmental, for breast cancer.

Oral infections and atherosclerosis
INVEST is a multi-school and multi-department study that addresses the contribution of oral infections to progression of atherosclerosis in a randomly selected cohort of participants in Northern Manhattan.

Health outcomes research
The Breast Cancer Quality of Care Study has collected data on over 1,000 women treated for breast cancer and is analyzing what factors predict the appropriate receipt of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy in these women.

The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
MESA is a medical research study involving more than 6,000 men and women from six communities in the United States. The Columbia University, cohort, comprising older Hispanic residents of Washington Heights, has contributed extensive findings for risk factors in this underserved population for cardiac disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease.

Affiliated Centers and Programs

Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center

Training Opportunities

Cancer Training Program

Columbia-South Africa Training Program for Research on HIV-Associated Malignancies

Cluster Faculty

A list of faculty involved in the cluster.