Petr Protiva

Petr Protiva, MD, MPH, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine (Digestive Diseases) at Yale School of Medicine. He holds adjunct faculty status at the Breslow Lab, Rockefeller University. His research focuses on colon cancer biology, prevention, and the molecular mechanisms of dietary and pharmacological interventions in gastrointestinal tissues. He leads the VA CSP#577 trial comparing colonoscopy and FIT screening for colorectal cancer mortality reduction. His work integrates translational research, clinical trials, and systems biology approaches, including genome-wide gene expression analysis. Protiva collaborates widely on viral and microbial associations in cancer and serves as an Associate Editor for BMJ Open Gastroenterology.

• Education:
  • BA, Masaryk University (1987)
  • MD, Charles University (1993)
  • MPH in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Yale University (2017)
  • Research Associate, Rockefeller University (2006)
• Research Interests:
  • Colorectal cancer prevention and pathways
  • Nutritional interventions (folate, vitamin D, calcium)
  • Large-scale healthcare database epidemiology
  • Gene expression analysis in cancer

His recent publications explore squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach/pancreas, socioeconomic determinants in biliary cancer survival, and viral/microbial influences on tumor outcomes. Protiva’s clinical trials and observational studies emphasize real-world outcomes in gastrointestinal diseases and cancer screening efficacy.

Key collaborations include studies on CMV and alphapapillomavirus roles in cancer progression, as well as appendiceal vs. cecal adenocarcinoma prognosis. His work bridges basic science and clinical practice to advance gastrointestinal oncology care.