About the Program

The program’s curriculum includes a breadth of courses on cancer research methodology, substantive courses on cancer epidemiology and prevention, as well as courses on genetic epidemiology and biomarkers. The courses are aimed at enhancing the skills and training of cancer epidemiologists through the integration of biologic and environmental factors into a deeper understanding of disease etiology and for translation into cancer control.

The Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is one of the first comprehensive academic programs in the world dedicated to the training of cancer epidemiologists.

Students and fellows in the program work closely with faculty who are conducting cutting-edge research into the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that influence both cancer incidence and survival with studies both in the U.S. and globally. Research covers a broad array of malignancies including breast, colorectal, lung, nasopharyngeal, hematologic, ovarian, endometrial and prostate cancers. A major focus of the work is integrative and multidisciplinary, conducted with colleagues in biostatistics, molecular pathology, cancer biology, genetics and immunology.

A notable strength of the program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is its integration into the Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, which enhances opportunities for collaborations with colleagues at other Harvard Medical Area institutions (e.g., Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute).This integration allows researchers to leverage unique data resources, most notably several large prospective cohort and case-control studies. These resources provide superb research opportunities for students and fellows.

Cumulatively, these resources and opportunities result in an exceptionally rich and vibrant academic environment for our students. Past graduates of our program serve as leaders in academia, government, and industry throughout the world.