Brenda Diergaarde

Brenda Diergaarde, PhD is an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh with joint appointments in the Department of Human Genetics, Center for Bioethics and Health Law, and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Program. She is a member of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center's Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Program.

• Leiden University (M.Sc., Biochemistry, 1993)
• Wageningen University (Ph.D., Molecular Epidemiology, 2004)

Research Interests focus on environmental, lifestyle, and (epi)genetic influences on cancer development, progression, and treatment response. Key areas include:

• Biomarker discovery for early cancer detection
• Smoking/alcohol interactions in head & neck cancers
• Genetic epidemiology of lung, head/neck, colon, and breast cancers
• Science & Technology Studies applications in oncology
• Research ethics in clinical studies

Publication Trends show consistent contributions to Nature Communications, JAMA Otolaryngology, and Clinical Cancer Research, with recent emphasis on machine learning in radiomics and Mendelian randomization studies.

Scientific Awards:

• Dutch Cancer Society Training Fellowship (2003-2005)
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (2005-2007)

She teaches Research Ethics and Gene Mapping, and her work bridges molecular epidemiology with clinical applications in cancer prevention.