Rebecca Graff

Rebecca Graff is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine. Her research focuses on population-based cancer epidemiology, particularly the genetic and lifestyle determinants of prostate and kidney cancers. She directs the 'Designing and Conducting Research' course and co-teaches EPI 207, while mentoring trainees across various programs.

Education:

• BA in Statistics, University of California, Berkeley (2006)
• ScD in Cancer Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2014)
• Postdoctoral Training in Genetic Cancer Epidemiology, University of California, San Francisco (2018)

Her research spans genetic epidemiology, metabolomics, and lifestyle factors in cancer risk and survivorship. She investigates the shared genetic basis of multiple cancers, improves PSA screening through genetic adjustment, and examines how obesity and environmental exposures influence kidney and prostate cancer outcomes. Her work integrates advanced analytical methods and large-scale genomic data to enhance cancer prevention and early detection.

Recent publications highlight trends in genetic risk prediction, environmental carcinogenesis, and lifestyle interventions in urological cancers. Her studies frequently appear in top-tier journals such as Nature Genetics, JAMA Network Open, and Nature Communications, reflecting her leadership in integrative molecular epidemiology and public health translation.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• Phi Beta Kappa with High Distinction, UC Berkeley (2006)
• Distinction in Methods, Harvard T.H. Chan SPH (2011)
• Best of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (2012)
• AACR Scholar-in-Training Award (2015)
• NCI Up for a Challenge Winner (2017)
• NCI Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program Research Highlights (2021, 2022, 2023)
• Emerging Cancer Scholars Speaker Exchange Program, UCSF (2023)

Dr. Graff mentors trainees and leads educational initiatives in research methodology. She has been involved in grant-funded studies on cancer survivorship, genetic risk modeling, and community-engaged research like the EMOVES study. Her work often involves large consortia and interdisciplinary teams, contributing to national and global cancer research priorities. She is actively involved in advancing equity in cancer screening and survivorship care through data-driven approaches.

She is affiliated with the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and contributes to multi-institutional research teams focused on genetic epidemiology and cancer prevention. Her lab collaborates extensively with biostatisticians, clinicians, and public health researchers to translate genomic findings into clinical and public health practice.