Our Programs

Our division is involved in a variety of projects within our mission of conducting epidemiologic research on the etiology and prognosis of cancers of greatest global public health importance, with an emphasis on proposing preventive practices. Our four main research programs are listed below:

1. HPV and Cancer Prevention:

   1. Studying the natural history of HPV infection and cervical carcinogenesis.

   2. Proving the benefits of HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer and of new molecular technologies to improve cervical cancer screening [methylation, microbiome].

   3. Determining how HPV vaccination impacts transmission between sexual partners.

2. Modifiable Factors and Cancer Risk and Survival:

   1. Examining how lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, physical activity, sleep) may be associated with ovarian cancer risk.

   2. Understanding engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviours among cancer survivors.

   3. Exploring measures to improve outcomes among cancer survivors.

3. Health Inequities & Cancer:

   1. Using census data linked to the Canadian Cancer Registry to identify social disparities in cancer outcomes.

   2. Identifying how socioeconomic status, race, and immigration affect site-specific cancer incidence, mortality, and survival.

   3. Examining the utility of different income measures in capturing socioeconomic status.

4. COVID-19 & Cancer:

   1. Using Quebec administrative health data to evaluate health system effects of the pandemic on cancer care pathways.

   2. Quantifying the predicted impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer-related mortality.

   3. Exploring the effects of wait-time to diagnosis and treatment on oncologic outcomes.