Andrew F. Olshan
Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, Epidemiology
andy_olshan@unc.edu
Curriculum Vitae
CPC Publications
ORCID iD
Andrew Olshan’s research has focused on community, lifestyle, and genetic risk factors and gene-environment interaction in the etiology of reproductive outcomes, birth defects, and cancer. His research on molecular and genetic epidemiology has employed population and community designs and has incorporated a range of environmental, household, lifestyle, and social factors.
Olshan's research has focused on community, lifestyle, and genetic risk factors and gene-environment interaction in the etiology of reproductive outcomes, birth defects, and cancer. His research on molecular and genetic epidemiology has employed population and community designs and has incorporated a range of environmental, household, lifestyle, and social factors.
Olshan directs the CDC-funded North Carolina Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention which conducts a national study of environmental and genetic risk factors for common birth defects. Recent research led by the UNC team has focused on the impact of body size, air pollution, maternal occupation, and genetic factors. Olshan also directs several studies of factors influencing cancer incidence and mortality. For example, his study of head and neck cancer in North Carolina examined the role of obesity, diet, and genetic factors. He co-directs the Carolina Endometrial Cancer Study which is a longitudinal cohort study of biological, individual, and community factors associated with disparities in endometrial cancer mortality.
Olshan serves as a crucial link between CPC's research program and the broader community at UNC interested in population and genetic interactions. His projects have utilized resources from the Spatial Analysis Services unit. He and Barbara Entwisle collaborated on a DBSB R25 grant to develop training at the intersection of two largely independent scientific traditions: molecular epidemiology and population science. He is also Associate Director for Population Sciences at UNC's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Olshan's research will examine genetic factors associated with the occurrence of birth defects using national study samples. He will also expand his research on the integration of biology, behavior, and community factors in determining the incidence and outcomes of cancer including disparities in breast and other cancers.