Speaker Series Seminar: Dr. Xuehong Zhang

"Improving Liver Health Through Diet and Lifestyle"

Abstract
In this talk, Dr. Zhang will introduce some research findings on liver cancer. Unlike many other cancers, liver cancer incidence is on the rise in the United States and worldwide, coupled with a median survival of less than one year. Hence, identification of modifiable risk factors to prevent the development of liver cancer is one of the key priorities to reduce liver cancer morbidity and mortality. The etiology of liver cancer remains poorly understood in the US, where chronic hepatitis infections are relatively low. One of Dr. Zhang’s research goals is to identify new modifiable risk factors for liver cancer to inform primary prevention strategies. In this talk, Dr. Zhang will share some research findings on diet, lifestyle and liver cancer. These findings have the potential to inform disease etiology, and strategies for liver cancer prevention.

Speaker Bio
Dr. Zhang is a population scientist whose research primarily focuses on the epidemiology of digestive cancers, especially those of the liver. He has a broad research program that includes cancer risk factors, diet, biomarkers, early detection, global prevention, and health disparities. He has designed and initiated a new cohort of patients with liver diseases and is instrumental in developing multi-center liver disease cohorts. He is well-funded as Principal Investigator of multiple grants from the National Institute of Health and American Cancer Society. He has published over 190 original research manuscripts, with over 30 senior author publications, and he has contributed to one book chapter. He has been invited to serve as NIH study sections, and the American Cancer Society Review Committee, and give multiple national and international talks. He has trained over 30 early-career researchers and has taught in several lectures at Harvard and other institutions.