Dr. Aaron Thrift, Chief, was appointed leader of the Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences Program at the NCI-funded Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
In this role, he will guide initiatives aimed at addressing the cancer burden in the Center's catchment area, building on his extensive expertise in cancer epidemiology, prevention and control.
Dr. Hyeyeun Lim and Dr. Zijian Zhang were selected for oral presentations at the 20th Annual Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Symposium.
Dr. Hyeyeun Lim- "Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis identifies signatures for classifying histologic subtype and predicting survival in smokers with lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma.”
Dr. Zijian Zhang- “GASPS: A Framework for Defining Genomic Aberration-Driven Signatures and Predicting Patient Outcomes'’
The Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences hosted a festive Thanksgiving gathering.
Faculty, staff, and graduate students came together to enjoy a delicious holiday meal, share conversations, and celebrate the season of gratitude.
The event was organized under the leadership of Section Chief, Dr. Aaron Thrift, and Pandora Jubilee to show appreciation for the team's hard work and to strengthen the community ties within the section. A big thank you to Demetrice Dent and Mayra Sanchez, who helped make this celebration special!
The Department proudly recognizes the faculty honored 2025 Research Mentor Champions for Medical Students by the Student Opportunities for Advancement in Research Office
This distinction celebrates faculty who demonstrate exceptional commitment to mentoring medical students in research and supporting the School of Medicine’s scholarly project requirement. We are pleased to share that several faculty from the Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences were among those recognized.
• Dr. Yanhong Liu, Epidemiology and Population Sciences
• Dr. Chao Cheng, Epidemiology and Population Sciences
Faculty take on new leadership roles
- Dr. Aaron Thrift, associate professor, serves as the leader of Population Science
- Dr. Elaine Symanski, professor, leads Environmental Epidemiology
- Dr. Yong Li, professor, leads Molecular Epidemiology
Additionally, Dr. Thrift will serve as deputy directors for the overall Section of Epidemiology and Population Science, assisting with strategic and operational management and leadership for the Section.
Dr. Yong Li, Professor, Epidemiology and Population Sciences received funding from the National Institutes of Health. The title of his study is, “Cancer Prevention-Interception Against MGUS Progression.” (Total Funding: $4,500,000, Funding Period: Four years).
Dr. Elaine Symanski, Professor, Epidemiology and Population Sciences and Dr. Kristina Whitworth, Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Population Sciences, received funding from the National Institute of Health. The title of their study is, “Exploring pathways through which structural racism impacts children’s environmental health.” (Total Funding: $2,583,470, Funding Period: 2 years). Click here to read more.
Dr. Aaron Thrift, Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Population Sciences, received an R01 Award from the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute. The title of his study is, “Genetic Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in African Americans.” (Funding Amount: $1,830,000 Funding Period: Five years)
Dr. Oluyomi Wins the First Department of Medicine 2023 Colleague of the Quarter Award
"Dr. Abiodun Oluyomi is leading a new Population Science core for the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and an expert on geospatial analytics. He is ever present, helping many investigators understand how geospatial attributes such as crowding, variation in income, ethnicity and proximity to contaminants affect health. He is an exemplar of teamwork, integrity and excellence."
Dr. Li Receives Philanthropic Award
Dr. Yafang Li, assistant professor, Epidemiology and Population Sciences, received a philanthropic award for $30,000 on behalf of VICTORY Houston, Inc. to support her work on genetic interactions between oncogenesis-related genes in lung cancer.
