Professor in Population Health Sciences
Research Professor of Global Health
Last updated resume here.
About Me
I am a cancer epidemiologist with a research program focused on identifying the impact of social factors (such as access to healthcare) and biological factors (such as metabolic dysregulation) on cancer-related risk, tumor aggressiveness, and survival. My work has been continuously funded by the NIH and published in over 160 peer-reviewed publications.
I am currently the PI of three ongoing studies on cancer disparities:
1. A case-control study of over 1,200 breast cancer cases and controls characterizing the role of metabolic dysregulation and DNA methylation among Nigerian women, with the goal of understanding why women of West African descent have the highest global triple-negative breast cancer rates.
2. A prospective cohort study of 1,600 Black, Hispanic, and White ovarian cancer patients in the US, characterizing multiple healthcare access domains and how they individually and synergistically influence receipt of guideline-adherent primary treatment, supportive care, and survival.
3. A prospective cohort study evaluating the mechanisms through which systemic racism (structural, cultural, and interpersonal racism) impacts US breast cancer disparities.
In addition to my research portfolio, I currently serve as the Vice-Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the Department of Population Health Sciences, where I develop and implement DEI strategies within the department’s core missions (research, teaching, and service). I also serve as the Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at the Duke Cancer Institute, leading strategic programs to address the burden of cancer in the DCI catchment area and beyond.
Contact
Office: 215 Morris St Ste 210, Durham, NC 27708
Mailing address: PO Box 104023, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 613-5950
Email: tomi.akinyemiju[at]duke.edu
Education
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Ph.D., 2012