Temitope O. Keku

Temitope O. Keku, PhD, MSPH, is a Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She directs the Enrichment Program and the NCI-funded U54 Partners Program, which focuses on cancer education and addressing disparities in biomedical research.

Her research integrates molecular epidemiology, translational science, and population health, with emphasis on:

• Gut microbiome dynamics and metabolomics in colorectal cancer
• Genetic susceptibility in gastrointestinal and gynecological cancers
• Transcriptomic mechanisms in diverticulosis and microscopic colitis
• Cancer health disparities across racial/ethnic populations

Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate strong focus on:

• Gene-environment interactions in colorectal cancer etiology
• Multi-omics approaches to early-onset cancers
• Racial disparities in cancer biomarkers and outcomes
• Translational applications of microbiome and metabolomic data

Awards & Honors:

• Pilot and Feasibility Award (1999)

Leadership & Collaborations: Directs training programs for underrepresented students; collaborates with Dellon, Fodor, Peery, Sandler, and Shaheen on multidisciplinary projects spanning basic science to population health.