David Hunter

"There are approximately 30,000 genes in the human genome," said Hunter. "Most of us carry variants of these genes. In the next 10 to 20 years, genetic epidemiologists will work out how these variants influence disease risk and interact with lifestyle and environmental factors in the causation of disease."

Noted HSPH Dean Barry Bloom, "Basic researchers have made strides in unraveling the human genome. Similarly, epidemiologists, with the help of cohort studies such as the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, are enhancing our understanding of how people’s lifestyle choices and environments are associated with their health. This program represents a major new initiative to study the complex relationships between genes, behavior and health."

In assuming leadership of this new program, Hunter has stepped down from his responsibilities as director of the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention (HCCP). Graham Colditz, a founding member of the center and its director of education, will take over the directorship.

"My principal ongoing commitment remains the study of the causes of cancer," said Hunter, "and the new program will have a major focus in the genetic causes of cancer as a route to improving our capacity for cancer prevention."

HSPH has recognized the emerging significance of researching such relationships, establishing the Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases earlier this fall. The Program in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, based in the Department of Epidemiology, will emphasize epidemiology and human studies. In addition to Hunter, the program involves Immaculata DeVivo and Peter Kraft, both assistant professors in the Department of Epidemiology. At least two new faculty members will be recruited, said Hunter, who anticipates collaborating broadly with colleagues in the Department of Epidemiology as well as other departments.

The program will center its bench science at the High-Throughput Polymorphism Detection Core lab in Building 2. The lab is part of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Harvard-Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics, and provides genotyping services for a wide variety of HSPH, HMS and hospital researchers. The laboratory will be temporarily housed in the HMS New Research Building this year while renovations are underway at HSPH.

For more information about the Program in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, please e-mail Hunter at dhunter@hsph.harvard.edu.