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Alpa V. Patel, PhD
Senior Vice President
Population Science
Why I Study Cancer
As a teenager, when I lost my grandfather to cancer, I began volunteering with the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Cancer Society and that is where my passion for our mission was born. As both a researcher and dedicated ACS volunteer, I feel privileged every day to be part of an organization that works to make important discoveries about cancer through research, deliver meaningful information, programs, and services, and empower cancer patients, their caregivers, and communities in the fight against cancer.¡±
At ACS since 1997
Alpa Patel, PhD, FACSM, is the senior vice president of Population Science. She oversees a team of approximately 40 research and study operations staff. These multi-disciplinary scientists use their research expertise in epidemiology, behavioral science, and implementation and evaluation science to increase the understanding about the causes of cancer and how to improve treatment outcomes after a cancer diagnosis.
Patel also serves as the principal investigator of the ACS Cancer Prevention Studies (CPS), CPS-II and CPS-3, which are among the country¡¯s largest population cohort studies. She provides strategic and operational oversight for the studies, including their biospecimen and data management.
She also serves on numerous international scientific advisory committees for epidemiologic cohort studies, sharing her expertise in their design and management.
Research focus and accomplishments?
Patel?studies cancer prevention, focusing on how?physical activity, sedentary behavior, and obesity?affect the risk of developing?or dying from?cancer.?
Highlights of her work, especially in areas where she¡¯s made significant contributions, include:?
- Leading?the 2019?publication,??on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Cancer Prevention and Control.
- Being recognized?for her work on?how?walking?lowers the?risk of premature death?with?the??in the ?ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Journal of Preventive Medicine.
- Having?her research?widely cited?in various consensus reports such as the?ACS Nutrition and Physical Activity?Guidelines?and?the?.
- Publishing??of the?ACS¡¯s?newest cohort?study, Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3)?in?2017.?
- Increasing the?understanding?of?how?sitting for a?prolonged time increases the?, including developing and?.?
Her research portfolio continues to focus on validation and other study methods. To learn more about her work listen to about Tracking COVID-19 Symptoms Through the ACS CPS-3 Studies.
Publications
Dr. Patel is on the editorial board for?Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention?and is?an?associate editor for?Breast Cancer Research.?
For a complete list of her publications,?.
Contact
alpa.patel@cancer.org
404-329-7726
Professional Organizations
- ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Association of Cancer Research (AACR), Member
- ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), Fellow
Education
- PhD: Epidemiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2000-2002
- MPH: Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1996-1997
- BS: Zoology, University of Florida, 1993-1996
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