Maria C. Katapodi

Professor Maria C. Katapodi is a Professor of Nursing Science at the University of Basel's Department of Clinical Research. She leads groundbreaking research in cancer genomics and prevention, particularly focusing on hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome and Lynch syndrome through her internationally recognized CASCADE consortium.

Her research interests span personalized healthcare, genomic interventions, and cancer control strategies. She pioneered the CASCADE initiative (Swiss Cancer Predisposition Genetic Screening), establishing a family-based cohort to investigate genetic testing impacts and develop comprehensive interventions. Her work bridges machine learning techniques with clinical applications for breast cancer risk prediction and prognosis.

Dr. Katapodi's recent publications examine genomic profiling in breast cancer patients, revealing critical insights about tissue sampling for accurate risk assessment. Her research demonstrates how primary tumor tissue remains the gold standard over lymph node samples for genomic testing, directly influencing clinical decision-making.

• Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)

As a dedicated mentor, she supervises PhD students including Lisa Schiess. Her substantial research funding includes multiple grants from the Swiss Cancer League and Swiss National Science Foundation supporting projects like CASCADE II and the DIALOGUE study. She recently organized a highly successful workshop for families with genetic cancer predisposition, demonstrating her commitment to patient engagement.

Her research team collaborates extensively through the CASCADE consortium with national partners including University Hospital Basel departments and international institutions across Switzerland, Australia, USA, Netherlands, and South Korea. The group actively develops digital health solutions for improving communication about cancer predisposition among high-risk families.