Population Science

Elizabeth Fontham, DrPH, Program Leader

The goal of the Population Science program is to conduct state-of-the-art descriptive and analytic epidemiologic research and to apply research findings to the development and implementation of interventions to reduce cancer-related incidence and mortality. Current research activities include molecular epidemiology studies with a focus in nutritional- and tobacco-related cancers (lung, stomach, pancreas, prostate), multi-site risk factors (alcohol, physical activity), and cancer surveillance and outcomes research.

Several community and population-based based outreach and surveillance programs are directed by Program Members and include the Center for Disease Control (CDC)-funded statewide Breast and Cervical Early Detection Program; the Louisiana tobacco-tax funded Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (Tobacco-Free Living); the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program (MB-CCOP); the NCI Cancer Information Service for Louisiana; and the State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan Coalition.

The Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center faculty who are members of the Population Science Program as funded investigators are:

• Wayne L. Backes, PhD – P450 genetic polymorphisms; functional consequences of interactions among P450 enzymes
• Ariane Bedimo-Rung, MPH, PhD – Physical activity, environmental influences on health outcomes
• Vivien W. Chen, PhD – Cancer surveillance and patterns of care
• Elizabeth T.H. Fontham, DrPH – Stomach, prostate, and tobacco-related cancers
• Diptasri Mandal, PhD – Familial and genetic risk
• Sarah Moody-Thomas, PhD – Behavioral science research
• Edward S. Peters, DMD, SM, SM, ScD – Molecular epidemiology of cancer
• Madhwa Raj, PhD – Vitamin binding proteins in reproductive cancers
• Richard Scribner, MD, MPH – Risk factor reduction - alcohol
• Neal R. Simonsen, PhD – Nutritional epidemiology; environmental and occupational carcinogenesis
• Melinda S. Sothern, PhD, CEP – Prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity
• L. Joseph Su, PhD – Molecular and nutritional epidemiology
• Donna Williams, MS, MPH – Disparities in and barriers to early detection, provider contributions to disparities, community participation in research and service delivery
• Xiao Cheng Wu, MD, MPH – Cancer surveillance and patterns of care

These researchers are part of a combined effort with other members of the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium (LCRC) to form a cohesive population science program in the greater New Orleans region.

Tulane Population Science Members

• Melissa Brammer
• Eric Johnson
• Michelle Lacey
• Therary Oum
• Sudesh Srivastav
• Larry Webber
• Hua Zhao