Aaron Thrift Lab

Research undertaken by the Thrift Lab is conducted with a view to reducing the burden from cancer through identifying risk factors, then translating these research findings into policy and practice. This includes research to identify the roles of environmental, personal and genetic factors in the causation of cancer and its precursors, and in cancer prognosis.

Major research in the lab focuses on developing cancer prediction models and tools for cancer patient risk stratification.

The lab also collaborates with other research groups on projects focusing on racial disparities in cancer incidence and outcomes.

RESPOND – African American Prostate Cancer Study

The RESPOND study will be one of the largest studies ever to look at the underlying factors and reasons that put African American men at higher risk for prostate cancer. Over the next five years, 10,000 African American men with prostate cancer will be recruited. Visit www.respondstudy.org

ALIVE – African American Liver Cancer: A Genetic Epidemiology Study

African Americans are a higher risk of developing and dying from liver cancer. The ALIVE study will be one of the first studies ever to look at the genetics of liver cancer among individuals of African ancestry. Over the next five years, we will recruit individuals with liver cancer and perform a genome-wide association study.

Alcohol, Obesity and Genetics in Liver Cancer

Despite the increasing burden and recognition that patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) represent a high-risk group for primary and secondary prevention of liver cancer, the determinants (risk and preventive factors) of progression in ALD are unclear. We are using data from large cohort studies (e.g., UK Biobank, All of Us, THCCC) to help identify and prioritize specific modifiable and actionable factors that can then be used to develop risk stratification models and facilitate liver cancer prevention efforts in the growing ALD population.

Primary and Secondary Prevention of Gastric Cancer

We propose to develop an evidence-based risk-stratified cost-effective approach for prevention of gastric cancer. Our studies aim to identify individuals in the general population at higher risk for gastric cancer (primary prevention) and those with gastric lesions at higher risk of progression (secondary prevention). We will use this information to inform clinical guidelines for gastric cancer control.