Associate Epidemiologist, Department of Medicine
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Eva.Schernhammer@channing.harvard.edu

My primary research interest is in exploring the exposures that influence the circadian system in humans. I have done work on the effects of light at night on cancer risk through the melatonin pathway and demonstrated that the effects of light at night may affect not only breast cancer, but also other cancers such as colorectal cancer, generating evidence that supports a new hypothesis on the development of cancer. I have also conducted urinary melatonin measurements in the Nurses' Health Study to assess the hormone's variations according to shift work status and its association with breast cancer risk in the Nurses' Health Study.

Another research focus is to examine the role of other endogenous hormones such as IGF-I and IGFBP-3, and differences with respect to functionally different polymorphisms of these genes, and risk of breast cancer. This focus reflects a broad interest in identifying and applying the use of biomarkers.

Thirdly, I am interested in the etiology and prevention of gastrointestinal tumors. Utilizing data from two large prospective cohorts I am exploring risk factors for both colorectal and pancreatic cancer and define further the chemopreventive effects of COX-2 inhibitors on cancer risk. In addition, I am also studying pathways of indicators of energy balance including IGFs with respect to colon cancer risk.

Most recently I have become interested in studying new areas including Parkinson's disease and its relation with cancer etiology, to further understand biological mechanisms in the development of cancer in humans.

Schernhammer ES, Laden F, Speizer FE, Willett WC, Hunter DJ, Kawachi I, Colditz GA. Rotating night shifts and risk of breast cancer in women participating in the Nurses' Health Study. J Natl Cancer Inst 2001;93(20):1563-8. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Michaud DS, Leitzmann MF, Giovannucci E, Colditz GA, Fuchs CS. Gallstones, cholecystectomy, and the risk for developing pancreatic cancer. Br J Cancer 2002;86(7):1081-5. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Laden F, Speizer FE, Willett WC, Hunter DJ, Kawachi I, Fuchs CS, Colditz GA: Night-shift work and risk of colorectal cancer in the Nurses' Health Study. J Natl Cancer Inst 2003;95(11): 825-828. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Hankinson SE, Hunter DJ, Blouin MJ, Pollak MN, Polymorphic variation at the ­202 locus in IGFBP-3: serum levels of insulin-like growth factors, interaction with retinol, and breast cancer risk. Int J Cancer 2003; 107(1):60-64. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Kang JH, Chan AT, Colditz GA, Fuchs CS: A prospective study of aspirin use and risk of pancreatic cancer in women. J Natl Cancer Inst 2004;96(1): 22-28. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Hunter DJ, Pollak M, Hankinson SE. A growth hormone polymorphism at position 1663 in intron 4 of the GH1 gene is not associated with breast cancer risk. Int J Cancer Prev 2004;1(1):33-37. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Colditz GA: Physician Suicide: a quantitative assessment of suicide rates among physicians [Meta-Analysis]; Am J Psychiatry 2004; 161(12):2295-2302. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Hankinson SE, Rosner B, Kroenke C, Speizer FE, Willett WC, Colditz GA, Kawachi I. Job stress and risk of breast cancer: The Nurses' Health Study. American Journal of Epidemiology 2004; 160(11):1079-1086. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Holly J, Pollak M, Hankinson SE. Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factors, their binding proteins, and breast cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2005; 14(3):699-704. [Abstract]

Megdal S, Kroenke C, Laden F, Pukkala E, Schernhammer ES. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between night shift work and breast cancer risk [meta-analysis]. Eur J Cancer 2005; Sep; 41(13):2023-2032. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Hankinson SE. Urinary melatonin levels and breast cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst 2005; 97(14):1084-1087 [Abstract].

Schernhammer ES, Kroenke C, Dowsett M, Folkerd E, Hankinson SE. Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels and their correlations with lifestyle factors and steroid hormone levels. J Pineal Res. 2006 Mar;40(2):116-24. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Tranah GJ, Giovannucci E, Chan AT, Ma J, Colditz GA, Willett WC, Fuchs CS. A Cyclin D A870G polymorphism and risk of colorectal adenomas as well as colorectal cancer in the Harvard cohorts. Br J Cancer. 2006 Mar 27;94(6):928-34. [Abstract]

Schernhammer ES, Holly JM, Hunter DJ, Pollak MN, Hankinson SE. Insulin-like growth factor I, its binding proteins (IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3), and growth hormone and breast cancer risk in The Nurses' Health Study II. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2006 Jun;13(2):583-92. [Abstract]