Dr. Graham Colditz is a preeminent epidemiologist and internationally recognized authority in cancer prevention research. He currently serves as the inaugural Niess-Gain Professor at Washington University School of Medicine, where he holds multiple leadership positions including Associate Director for Prevention and Control at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center and Director of the Division of Public Health Sciences. An Australian-born physician-scientist, he received his medical degree from the University of Queensland and completed advanced training at Harvard University before establishing himself as a leading figure in chronic disease epidemiology. Prior to joining Washington University in 2006, he was Principal Investigator of the landmark Nurses' Health Study at Harvard, where he made significant contributions to understanding women's health across the lifespan. His career trajectory has been defined by a steadfast commitment to translating epidemiological findings into practical prevention strategies that benefit public health.
Dr. Colditz's groundbreaking research has fundamentally reshaped understanding of breast cancer etiology and prevention, particularly through his identification of critical risk factors across the female lifespan. His seminal work published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1995 first documented the significant increase in breast cancer risk associated with combined estrogen plus progestin therapy, findings later confirmed by the Women's Health Initiative that altered clinical practice worldwide. He has made equally important contributions to understanding how proliferative benign lesions serve as markers for subsequent breast cancer risk, as published in JAMA (1992) and NEJM (1999), establishing early pathways for risk stratification and intervention. With more than 1100 peer-reviewed publications and an h-index exceeding 300, his research program has consistently demonstrated how childhood and adolescent diet, alcohol consumption, and adiposity can modify risk of premalignant and invasive breast cancers. His work bridges fundamental epidemiological research with practical applications, establishing him as one of the most highly cited medical researchers globally.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Colditz has developed innovative tools to translate scientific advances into public health impact, most notably creating the award-winning Your Disease Risk website that delivers tailored prevention messages to the public. His leadership extends to numerous influential roles, including service on National Academy of Medicine committees, editorship of Cancer Causes and Control, and contributions to the Surgeon General's reports on tobacco. In 2024, he co-founded Prognosia Inc. to commercialize his breast cancer prevention tool, which received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in June 2025 before being acquired by Lunit in September 2025, demonstrating the real-world applicability of his research. As a recipient of the American Cancer Society Medal of Honor (2011) and AACR-AACS award (2012), among other prestigious honors, he continues to shape cancer prevention science through his implementation research addressing efficient uptake of guidelines in health systems. His current work focuses on advancing precision prevention strategies and eliminating cancer disparities through community-based interventions, ensuring his decades of epidemiological insights continue to improve population health outcomes.
