Host Susceptibility Factors Branch (HSFB)
Elizabeth M. Gillanders, Ph.D.
Branch Chief
The Host Susceptibility Factors Branch (HSFB) focuses on factors that influence personal susceptibility to cancer, such as genetic, epigenetic, immunological, and hormonal biological pathways; and social, cultural, and race/ethnic factors.
HSFB's mission is to plan, develop, direct, coordinate, and evaluate:
- A comprehensive program of epidemiologic research in the etiology of cancer in human populations related to host (i.e., personal) susceptibility factors such as genetic, epigenetic, immunological and hormonal biological pathways; and social, cultural, and race/ethnicity factors;
- A program of epidemiologic research to study differences in cancer susceptibility and risk in individuals and populations and the multiple environmental and genetic factors that jointly contribute to cancer, with the ultimate goal of elucidating the etiology of cancer;
- A program of extramural epidemiologic research to evaluate the association of and magnitude of cancer risk associated with biomarkers of host susceptibility such as physiological status or function; and
- Research resources, infrastructures, and consortia with a focus on personal susceptibility factors to facilitate and maximize the scientific potential of cancer epidemiology research.
Its mission also is to disseminate findings from the research supported by the Branch to the public, health care professionals, scientists engaged in cancer control, and the public health community.
HSFB Staff
| Branch | Name/Title | Contact Info | Interest Areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSFB | Gillanders, Elizabeth M., Ph.D. Branch Chief |
301-594-5868 lgilland@mail.nih.gov |
Genetic epidemiology of cancer |
| HSFB | Buccini, Laura D., Dr.P.H., M.P.H. Bioethicist, Contractor |
301-435-2384 buccinild@mail.nih.gov |
Public health and research ethics, specifically the intersection between genetic/genomic research with issues surrounding informed consent, informed decision making, access, and sharing of data |
| HSFB | Carrick, Danielle Mercatante, Ph.D., M.H.S. Program Director |
301-594-2389 carrick@mail.nih.gov |
Immunology, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases associated with cancer risk; pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacogenomics in relation to cancer risk; biospecimen research; translational medicine |
| HSFB | Green, Tiffany, M.H.S., M.P.H. Contractor, Program Analyst |
301-594-7348 greentif@mail.nih.gov |
Ethical and social issues surrounding advances in the genetic epidemiology of cancer and infectious diseases |
| HSFB | Hutter, Carolyn M., Ph.D. Program Director |
301-435-4910 huttercm@mail.nih.gov |
Genetic epidemiology, statistical methods, and post-GWAS research |
| HSFB | Lepage, Pascale, Ph.D. Contractor, Public Health Advisor |
301-594-3652 lepagep@mail.nih.gov |
Molecular biology of lung cancer |
| HSFB | Martin, Damali N., Ph.D., M.P.H. Program Director |
301-451-1956 martinda@mail.nih.gov |
Health disparities research, specifically for breast and prostate cancer and whether tumor biology contributes to differences in survival between African-American and Caucasian breast and prostate cancer patients |
| HSFB | Mechanic, Leah E., Ph.D., M.P.H. Program Director |
301-496-8105 mechanil@mail.nih.gov |
Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, biospecimen science, molecular epidemiology of lung cancer, hematological malignancies, and endometrial cancer |
| HSFB | Mette, Eliza Cancer Research Training Award Fellow |
301-594-2244 metteer@mail.nih.gov |
Global and domestic health disparities research and the role of social and behavioral factors associated with cancer risk |
| HSFB | Nelson, Stefanie A., Ph.D. Program Director |
301-435-6613 nelsons@mail.nih.gov |
Genetic differences affecting cancer risk and response to treatment, understanding the function of cancer risk variants, and interactions between the germline and somatic cancer genomes |
| HSFB | Tingle, Sharna, M.P.H. Cancer Research Training Award Fellow |
301-594-7348 tinglesr@mail.nih.gov |
Health policy, bioethics, and public health genetics |
| HSFB | Zanetti, Krista A., Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D. Program Director |
301-496-7250 zanettik@mail.nih.gov |
Molecular epidemiology of lung and colon cancer, genome-wide association studies, use of emerging technologies in epidemiology studies, biological determinants of health disparities associated with cancer |
