Project 5: Environmental Epidemiology of Lung Cancer in New Hampshire: A Multilevel Approach using GIS and Case-Control Methods

Eric Duell, Ph.D.

Dr. Eric Duell is a molecular epidemiologist who is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School. Dr. Xun Shi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography in the College of Arts & Sciences at Dartmouth. They propose combining GIS with molecular epidemiology to investigate the possible role of environmental agents in lung cancer risk in the New Hampshire population. They have also had a series of ongoing discussions with Dr. Treadwell (Project 4) on the development of potential biomarkers of exposure and/or early stages of lung disease and its future application to their epidemiology study. Since they are investigating many of the same agents of concern in Project 4, such as metals and PM2.5 particulates, it is plausible that such biomarkers will be identified and directly applicable to their studies.

Xun Shi, Ph.D.

They have also discussed with the Cystic Fibrosis group within the COBRE program (Projects 1-3 as well as Drs. Stanton and Parker) using their GIS knowledge base to investigate possible environmental factors in the etiology of cystic fibrosis. Other endpoints, such as asthma, COPD and lung fibrosis are also likely to be amenable to use of GIS based epidemiology studies to examine possible causal or contributory environmental factors in lung disease. Finally, as noted above, Dr. Shi is working with Drs. O’Toole and Swiatecka-Urban to use a GIS approach to elucidate spatial relationships in biological systems.

Dr. Duell’s research will be mentored by Margaret Karagas Ph.D., a Professor of Epidemiology at Dartmouth Medical School. Frank Magilligan Ph.D. will serve as the senior mentor to Dr. Shi.