Qiuyin Cai., MD, PHD;Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Idea Award:

My breast cancer research is focused on genetics variations related to breast cancer risk. For example I am starting the oxidative stress related gene variation related to breast cancer risk. I am also starting mitochondria DNA damage related to breast cancer risk. And also, I am working on how this gene variation interacts with environment effects. For example, dietary effect, lifestyle effect and this gene environmental interaction in relation to breast cancer risk.

So my study is trying to identify some genetic markers and hope eventually we can use this marker for the risk assessment, earlier detection, and so hopefully one day we can use this knowledge in the cancer detection and prevention.

I collaborate with others at Vanderbilt, actually I am very fortunate that we have a very nice group of epidemiologists in basic science and physicians at Vanderbilt, so we've been working together. It's impossible that I can do it on my own. So, many people contribute to my research and to my grant from DoD.