Dr. Paolo Boffetta is a world-renowned epidemiologist whose pioneering work has significantly advanced our understanding of cancer etiology and prevention strategies. He currently serves as Professor and Associate Director for Population Sciences at the Stony Brook University Cancer Center, where he leads innovative research in population health and cancer prevention. Dr. Boffetta received his MD from the University of Turin in 1985 and complemented his medical training with an MPH from Columbia University in 1988, establishing the foundation for his distinguished career in public health research. His professional journey includes significant leadership roles at Mount Sinai School of Medicine as Associate Director for Population Sciences of the Tisch Cancer Institute and Division Chief of Cancer Prevention and Control, as well as executive positions at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon.
Dr. Boffetta's groundbreaking research has focused on identifying environmental and lifestyle factors contributing to cancer development across diverse global populations, with particular expertise in molecular epidemiology and international collaborative studies. He has founded and led multiple international research consortia including Interlymph, ILCCO, INHANCE, and PANC4, which have transformed cancer research through large-scale data sharing and analysis across continents. His prolific scholarship encompasses over 1,000 scientific publications with an impressive H-index of 157 in Web of Science and 204 in Google Scholar, placing him among the top 20 Italian scientists globally. Notable contributions include his work on DNA adducts and combinations of multiple lung cancer at-risk alleles, along with influential research estimating asbestos-related lung cancer burden from mesothelioma mortality, both of which have informed critical public health policies worldwide.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Boffetta has been instrumental in training the next generation of epidemiologists through his teaching roles at Stony Brook University, Harvard School of Public Health, and the University of Bologna, where he imparts advanced epidemiological methods and cancer prevention strategies. He has served in prominent leadership positions including Chair of the Molecular Epidemiology Group of the American Association for Cancer Research and as a member of the Steering Committee for the Asia Cohort Consortium, shaping research agendas across multiple institutions. Dr. Boffetta's current research continues to push boundaries in cancer epidemiology, with recent projects investigating lipidomic profiles and colorectal cancer risk as evidenced by his 2024 CDAS project approval at Stony Brook. His ongoing commitment to international scientific collaboration and mentorship ensures his continued impact on developing evidence-based cancer prevention strategies that address health disparities and improve population outcomes globally.
