David Umbach’s primary methodological interest is the development of new statistical tools for detecting and characterizing gene-environment interactions through epidemiologic studies. Currently, he is investigating extensions to a recently proposed hybrid design for studying genetic influences on risk. These extensions focus on utilizing exposure information, whether categorical or continuous, in the context of this design. He is also working on methods for use with a case-parents design when subjects are genotyped at multiple linked SNPs that allow discovery of potential risk-tagging haplotypes.
Umbach has recently developed an interest in the statistical design and analysis of studies involving gene expression microarrays and certain mass spectrometry techniques for proteomics, particularly SELDI-TOF. Data from these sources pose challenges for standard statistical techniques because there are typically many more observations on each sample than there are samples in a study.
He also actively collaborates with NIEHS researchers on a variety of studies. Topics include the following: aspects of genetic susceptibility to cancer, environmental and genetic influences on neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, effects of pesticides on respiratory diseases in the Agricultural Health Study cohort, and the hormonal effects of soy formula in infants.
Selected Publications
Vermeulen SH, Shi M, Weinberg CR, Umbach DM. A hybrid design: case-parent triads supplemented by control-mother dyads. Genetic Epidemiology 2009 33(2):136-144. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18759250)
Statistical Methods for Genetic, Molecular and Environmental Epidemiology
Weinberg CR, Umbach DM. A hybrid design for studying genetic influences on risk of diseases with onset early in life. American Journal of Human Genetics 2005; 77:627-636. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16175508)
Weinberg CR, Umbach DM. Choosing a retrospective design to assess joint genetic and environmental contributions to risk. American Journal of Epidemiology 152:197-203, 2000. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10933265)
Umbach DM, Weinberg CR . The use of case-parent triads to study joint effects of genotype and exposure. American Journal of Human Genetics 66:251-261, 2000. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10631155)
Umbach, D.M. Unit conversion as a source of misclassification in U.S. birthweight data. American Journal of Public Health 90:127-129, 2000. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10630152)
Weinberg, C.R., and D.M. Umbach. Using pooled exposure assessment to improve efficiency in case-control studies. Biometrics 55: 718-26, 1999. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11314998)
Umbach DM, Weinberg CR. Designing and analyzing case-control studies to exploit independence of genotype and exposure. Statistics in Medicine 16:1731-1743, 1997. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9265696)
Statistical Methods for Gene Expression Microarrays and Genomics
Huang W, Umbach DM, Ohler U, Li L. Optimized mixed Markov models for motif identification. BMC Bioinformatics 2006, 2 June; 7:279 (electronic access). [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16749929)
Huang W, Umbach DM, Li L. Accurate anchoring alignment of divergent sequences. Bioinformatics 2006; 22:29-34. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16301203)
Liu D, Umbach DM, Peddada SD, Li L, Crockett P, Weinberg CR. A random-periods model for expression of cell-cycle genes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2004; 101:7240-7245. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15123814)
Peddada SD, Lobenhofer EK, Li L, Afshari CA, Weinberg CR, Umbach DM. Gene selection and clustering for time-course and dose-response microarray experiments using order restricted inference. Bioinformatics 2003; 19:834-841. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12724293)
Genetic Susceptibility to Cancer
Swartz CD, King LC, Nesnow S, Umbach DM, Kumar S, DeMarini DM. Mutagenicity, stable DNA adducts, and abasic sites induced in
salmonella by phenanthro[3,4-b]- and phenanthro[4,3-b]thiophenes, sulfur analogs of benzo[c]phenanthrene. Mutation research 2009 661(1-2):47-56. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=19041882)
Yim HW, Slebos RJC, Randell SH, Umbach DM, Rivera MP, Detterbeck FC, Taylor JA. Smoking is associated with increased telomerase activity in short-term cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells. Cancer Letters 2007; 246: 24-33. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16517060)
Terry P, Umbach DM, Taylor JA. APE1 genotype and risk of bladder cancer: evidence for effect modification by smoking. International Journal of Cancer. 2006; 118:3170-3173. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16425270)
Terry P, Umbach DM, Taylor JA. No association between SOD2 or NQO1 genotypes and risk of bladder cancer. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 2005; 14:753-754. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15767364)
Slebos RJC, Umbach DM, Sommer CA, Horner GA, Choi J, Taylor JA. Analytical and statistical methods to evaluate microsatellite allelic imbalance in small amounts of DNA. Laboratory Investigation 2004; 84:649-657. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15048133)
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Chen H , Richards M , Sandler DP , Umbach DM , Kamel F. Head injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. American Journal of Epidemiology 2007; 7:810-816. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17641152)
Kamel F, Tanner CM, Umbach DM, Hoppin JA, Alavanja MCR, Blair A, Comyns K, Goldman SM, Korell M, Langston JW, Ross GW, Sandler DP. Pesticide exposure and self-reported Parkinson’s Disease in the Agricultural Health Study. American Journal of Epidemiology 2006; 165:364-74. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17116648)
Kamel F,Umbach DM, Hu H, Munsat TL, Shefner JM, Taylor JA, Sander DP. Lead Exposure as a Risk Factor for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Neurodegenerative Diseases 2005; 2 (3-4):195-201. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16909025)
Terry PD, Kamel F, Umbach DM, Lehman TA, Hu H, Sandler DP, Taylor JA. VEGF promoter haplotype and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Journal of Neurogenetics 2004; 18:429-434. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15763997)
Kamel F, Umbach DM, Hu H, Munsat TL, Shefner JM, Sandler DP. Lead exposure and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Epidemiology 2002; 13:311-319. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11964933)
Kamel F, Umbach DM, Stallone L, Richards M, Hu H, Sandler DP, . Association
of lead exposure with survival in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Neurology;
2008; 116(7):943-947. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18629318)
Respiratory Diseases in the Agricultural Health Study
Hoppin JA, Valcin M, Henneberger PK, Kullman GJ, Umbach DM, London SJ, Alavanja MCR, Sandler DP. Pesticide use and chronic bronchitis among farmers in the Agricultural Health Study. American journal of industrial medicine 2007 50(12):969-979. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17975796)
Hoppin JA, Umbach DM, Kullman GJ, Henneberger PK, London SJ, Alavanja MCR, Sandler DP. Pesticides and other agricultural factors associated with self-reported farmer’s lung among farm residents in the Agricultural Health Study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. (in press). [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17182642)
Hoppin JA, Umbach DM, London SJ, Lynch CF, Alavanja MCR, Sandler DP. Pesticides associated with wheeze among commercial pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. American Journal of Epidemiology 2006; 163:1129-1137. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16611668)
Hoppin JA, Umbach DM, London SJ, Alavanja MCR, Sandler DP. Diesel exhaust, solvents, and other occupational exposures as risk factors for wheeze among farmers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004; 169:1308-1313. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15070818)
Hoppin JA, Umbach DM, London SJ, Alavanja MCR, Sandler DP. Chemical predictors of wheeze among farmer pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. American Journal of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine 2002; 165: 683-689. [Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11874814)