Research Focus
The Pinheiro Lab conducts population-based cancer epidemiology using large-scale cancer registry and surveillance data. The research focuses on the intersection of population heterogeneity and cancer etiology, leveraging the statistical power of large population-based datasets to identify patterns and associations that may remain hidden in smaller or traditional cohort studies.
Current research areas include viral-associated malignancies such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma linked to HTLV-1 infection, lung cancer among never smokers, migration-related patterns in liver cancer, and the development of population-based research infrastructures such as the firefighter cancer registry to study long-term cancer and mortality risks in occupational populations.
A central component of this work is the analysis of detailed racial, ethnic, and nativity-defined populations in the United States, including groups often aggregated in national statistics such as Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Caribbean, Chinese and Filipino populations among others. By examining heterogeneity within populations, the lab seeks to uncover etiologic clues, identify distinct cancer risk profiles, and reveal opportunities for improved screening, surveillance, and prevention.
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