Susan Sturgeon

Professor

We use epidemiologic research designs to identify risk factors for breast cancer. We conduct survey research, intervention studies and laboratory assessments on blood, urine and breast milk.

Current Research

Dr. Sturgeon’s research primarily focuses on the epidemiology of hormonally related cancers, including breast and endometrial cancer. Her research portfolio includes studies on the effects of pomegranate juice on hormonal markers of breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women; the role of melatonin in the etiology of breast cancer; and the discovery of epigenetic markers of breast cancer risk. She is also interested in the potential role of serum markers of immune function and melanoma risk.

Learn more at: www.umass.edu/sphhs/person/faculty/susan-r-sturgeon

Academic Background

BS University of Connecticut, 1978
MPH, Yale University, 1982
Dr.PH, Columbia University, 1992

Selected Publications

Reeves KW, Díaz Santana M, Manson JE, Hankinson SE, Zoeller RT, Bigelow C, Sturgeon SR, Spiegel D, Tinker L, Luo j, Chen B, Meliker J, Bonner MR, Cote ML, Cheng TD, Calafat AM. Urinary Phthalate Biomarker Concentrations and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Risk. J National Cancer Inst, 2019: Jan 10.

Diaz Santana MV, Hankinson SE, Bigelow C, Sturgeon SR, Zoeller RT, Tinker L, Manson JE, Calafat AM, Meliker JR, and Reeves KW. Urinary concentrations of phthalate biomarkers and weight change among postmenopausal women: a prospective cohort study. Environ Health 2019; 18:20.

Essa AR, Browne EP, Punska EC, Perkins K, Boudreau E, Wiggins H, Anderton DL, Sibeko L, Sturgeon SR, Arcaro KF. Dietary intervention to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in breastfeeding women: A pilot randomized trial measuring inflammatory markers in breast milk. J Acad Nutr Diet, 2018:118:2287-2295.

Kiridly-Calderbank JF, Sturgeon SR, Kroenke CH, Reeves KW. Antidepressant use and risk of colorectal cancer in the Women's Health Initiative. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018 May 22.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-17-1035

Perez-Caraballo, AM*, Ma Y, Ockene JK, Reeves KW, Balasubramanian R, Stanczyk FZ, Allison MA, Chen C, Wang L, Manson JE, Sturgeon SR. Urinary levels of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) and risk of incident hypertension. Chronobiol Int 2018: May 11:1-7.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2018.1461109

Susan Sturgeon

Institute for Applied Life Sciences