Jack Taylor

Biography

With dual appointments in the Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory and the Epidemiology Branch, Jack A. Taylor, M.D., Ph.D., leads the Molecular & Genetic Epidemiology Group. The group is focused on understanding the interaction between genes and environmental exposures in human carcinogenesis. The group studies human genetic variation in susceptibility to DNA damage and the frequency and pattern of DNA mutation from environmental exposure (Figure 1). In addition the group integrates field epidemiology in its work by applying what it learns to population-based studies of cancer risk. These measures are being applied in samples from epidemiologic case-control and case-case studies of a variety of cancers including carcinoma of the bladder, lung, prostate and pancreas; and a variety of environmental exposures including radiation, arylamines, asbestos, nickel, chromate and smoking. One current clinical-translational study follows patients at high risk of developing lung cancer with sequential bronchoscopies and biopsies of preneoplastic lesions. Tissues from these lesions are microdissected using laser capture microdissection and analyzed for LOH and other molecular abnormalities.

Research Interest

Genes, Environment & Human Carcinogenesis