Timothy R. Rebbeck, PhD

Professor of Epidemiology
Director of the Center for Genetics and Complex Traits,
Director of the Laboratory for Molecular Epidemiology
Associate Director for Population Science in the Abramson Cancer Center
University of Pennsylvania

Timothy R. Rebbeck, PhD is Professor of Epidemiology, Director of the Center for Genetics and Complex Traits, Director of the Laboratory for Molecular Epidemiology, and Associate Director for Population Science in the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

He leads molecular epidemiologic studies to identify and characterize cancer genes; to understand the relationship of allelic variation of these genes with cancer occurrence and cancer outcomes; and to evaluate the role of these genes in cancer etiology and outcomes in the context of the demographic, biochemical, environmental, and physiological risk factors. He has focused this research to address the following questions: 1) Why do men of African descent have higher incidence and poorer prognosis for prostate cancer compared to other groups? 2) How do we refine our understanding of cancer risk and prevention in women who have inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations? 3) How do genes, environments, and other contextual factors interact in the etiology of commonly occurring cancers?