Mine Cicek

Mine Cicek, Ph.D., is a researcher in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She is actively involved in the All of Us Research Program and has contributed to numerous studies in genetic epidemiology, cancer research, and population health. Her work spans multiple committees at Mayo Clinic and the National Institutes of Health, focusing on biobanking, clinical trials, and translational research.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Genetics, Virginia Tech (2001)
• M.S. in Genetics, Virginia Tech (1997)
• B.S. in Biology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey (1992)

Dr. Cicek's research focuses on genetic epidemiology with particular emphasis on cancer susceptibility, especially ovarian cancer. Her work involves large-scale genomic studies, biobanking methodologies, and population-based research. She has made significant contributions to understanding the genetic basis of cancer through epigenetic analyses and genome-wide association studies. Her research bridges laboratory science with clinical applications, aiming to translate genetic findings into improved patient care and risk assessment. Recent work demonstrates her expanding focus on population health through the All of Us Research Program.

Her publication record shows a clear trajectory from focused cancer genetics research toward broader population health questions using large-scale data. The recent articles demonstrate expertise across diverse areas including genomic medicine, epidemiology of chronic diseases, health disparities, and post-COVID conditions. This evolution reflects a strategic shift toward precision medicine approaches that leverage population data to understand disease mechanisms and improve health outcomes across diverse groups.

Scientific Awards:

• Mayo Clinic Genetic Epidemiology Risk Assessment (GERA) Program Travel Award, American Society of Human Genetics (2010)
• R25 CA 92049: PI Gloria M. Petersen Mayo Cancer Genetic Epidemiology Training Grant (2005)
• Travel Fellowship Grant, World Soybean Research Conference (1999)

Dr. Cicek serves on multiple committees including the Biobank Scientific Oversight Group at Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine and various NIH subcommittees. She is a member of the Advanced Clinical Trials and Translational Sciences Program at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. Her research has been supported by numerous grants, particularly through the NIH and Mayo Clinic programs focused on cancer genetics and epidemiology. She collaborates extensively with researchers across institutions on large consortium projects including the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium.

She is actively involved with the Mayo Clinic Biobank, contributing to its development as a resource for translational research. Her work in laboratory operations for biobanking has helped establish best practices for sample collection, processing, and utilization in genetic and epidemiological studies. She continues to expand her research into new areas including the application of genomic data to understand health disparities and chronic disease patterns in diverse populations.