Heather Hammond Nelson

Heather Hammond Nelson is a Professor in the Division of Epidemiology & Community Health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She also serves as Associate Director of Cancer Prevention and Control at the Masonic Cancer Center and is a co-leader of the Screening, Prevention, Etiology and Cancer Survivorship program.

Dr. Nelson earned her PhD in Cancer Biology from Harvard University, her MPH from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, and her BA from Hamline University. Her academic journey reflects a strong foundation in both biological sciences and public health.

Dr. Nelson's research program focuses on environmental exposures and genetic traits that increase cancer susceptibility and impact patient outcomes. Her current work is particularly centered on understanding the role of inter-individual differences in immunity, as well as viral exposures, in cancer epidemiology. Her expertise spans cancer, genetics, epigenetics, environmental factors, and immunity, making significant contributions to our understanding of cancer etiology and prevention.

Her publication record demonstrates a strong trajectory of impactful research, with recent work examining aging measures and cancer, carcinogenicity of various drugs, and associations between cytomegalovirus infection and cancer outcomes. Her research bridges population-based epidemiology with molecular mechanisms of cancer development.

• University of Minnesota School of Public Health
• Masonic Cancer Center

Dr. Nelson's research has been supported by various grants focusing on cancer epidemiology, with particular emphasis on understanding how environmental exposures, genetic factors, and immune responses interact to influence cancer risk and outcomes. Her work has significant implications for cancer prevention strategies and personalized approaches to cancer care.

Within the Masonic Cancer Center, Dr. Nelson leads initiatives focused on cancer prevention and control, contributing to the center's mission of reducing the cancer burden through research, education, and community engagement.