Derrick Lee

Derrick Lee is a Professor in the Department of Math & Statistics at Saint Francis Xavier University. He holds cross-appointments in Biology at StFX and is an Adjunct Professor in Community Health & Epidemiology at Dalhousie University. His research focuses on identifying environmental and genetic risk factors for cancers, particularly breast and colorectal cancers, with an emphasis on gene-environment interactions and statistical methodologies.

Dr. Lee leads the GENIC (GENe-Interactions in Cancer) lab, which investigates multi-center studies exploring genetic and environmental risk factors. Current projects include analyzing pre-pregnancy smoking exposure and epistasis in breast cancer risk, and examining environmental and genetic risk factors in colorectal cancer across BC and Atlantic Canada. His team includes undergraduate researchers Samantha Bardwell, Kennedy Nangle, and Alison Walsh.

His research spans epidemiological and biostatistical methods, occupational exposure assessment, and bioinformatics. Notable collaborations include studies with the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute and the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow's Health Cancer Control Research. His work bridges statistical rigor with real-world applications in public health and cancer prevention.

Dr. Lee has advised Honours students like Grace Tompkins (now at University of Waterloo) and Jacob Burke (now at Boston University). He has published extensively in journals like British Journal of Haematology and Occupational and Environmental Medicine, focusing on topics ranging from lymphoma prognosis to occupational carcinogens. His research emphasizes translational science, aiming to improve cancer risk prediction and clinical decision-making.