About the Branch

Overview

The Genetic Epidemiology Branch designs and conducts interdisciplinary clinical, epidemiologic, genetic, and laboratory studies of persons, families, and populations at high risk of cancer. These investigations identify genes and exposures conferring cancer predisposition, and explore the combined effects of predisposition and specific exposures. As part of this effort, the Branch maintains a familial cancer registry and biospecimen repositories. Families participating in specific studies receive counseling about their risk of cancer and about screening or intervention options. Cancer-related educational materials are developed for family members, health care providers, and the general public.

With recent advances in laboratory technologies, it is often possible to measure directly genetic variations as risk factors for specific types of cancer. A broad range of methodologies are used in these interdisciplinary investigations including family, case-control, cohort, and pharmacogenetic designs. Family studies are used to map and identify genes predisposing to cancer, which can then be evaluated for nonfamilial cancer in specific populations. Family studies are often extended to evaluate modifiers of genetic risk, such as environmental exposures or other genes. Pharmacogenetic studies typically evaluate variations in the metabolism of carcinogens, procarcinogens, medications, hormones, and dietary factors. Metabolic variation may determine the effective dose of an agent, and thus the biological consequences of exposure. These types of studies are key to the understanding of gene-environment interactions, which may result in differences in cancer susceptibility among individuals. To advance research in this area, the Branch undertakes methodologic investigations to develop statistical genetics approaches, study designs to maximize efficiency, and analytic tools for exploring gene-environment interactions.

The Branch offers many opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and training, including a postdoctoral fellowship program in cancer genetics which provides training in clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory approaches.