Research/Projects

The Gastric Cancer Prevention Lab at Yale conducts clinically grounded, policy-relevant research to reduce the burden of gastric cancer through risk-based early detection and prevention strategies. Our work bridges gastroenterology, public health, and health equity, with a focus on immigrant and high-risk populations in the U.S.

Below are key areas of research and project activity within the lab:

We analyze large-scale data to understand geographic, racial/ethnic, and structural drivers of gastric cancer burden in the United States. Current projects include:

• State-Level DALY and Structural Determinant Analysis
  Using Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), we quantify gastric cancer burden across U.S. states and examine how factors like education, income, and racial composition contribute to disparities.
• Geographic Disparities in Late-Stage Gastric Cancer Diagnosis
  This multi-state analysis identifies U.S. regions with disproportionate rates of late-stage gastric cancer at diagnosis. These findings inform targeted prevention and screening policies.

We are developing a migration-informed risk index to guide screening decisions in the absence of national guidelines. This work involves:

• Integration of demographic, clinical, and migration-related variables to identify high-risk individuals for H. pylori infection and gastric cancer
• Ongoing validation of this risk score using real-world data from high-incidence communities
• Collaborations with health systems to explore EHR-based risk tools for clinical use

Recognizing gaps in clinical awareness and early referral, we are designing tools to support education and guideline development, including:

• Training modules for GI fellows and gastroenterologists on gastric cancer epidemiology, endoscopic recognition, and management of high-risk patients
• Development of point-of-care tools and referral pathways to improve H. pylori testing, surveillance, and specialist access
• Ongoing needs assessment through surveys of PCPs and GI trainees

Our lab is leading real-world implementation projects in partnership with local organizations serving immigrant communities. These efforts include:

• Community-based H. pylori screening pilots in high-risk populations
• Evaluation of screening uptake, clinical outcomes, and patient experience
• Integration of community-based findings into our risk model development and provider-facing tools

We work closely with advocacy groups, public health stakeholders, and policymakers to translate research into action. Current initiatives include:

• Engagement with federal and state leaders to highlight gaps in gastric cancer screening and prevention
• Contributions to guideline development efforts for risk-based H. pylori testing
• Partnerships with organizations focused on health equity and cancer prevention

To determine the level of evidence, we apply the meta-research tools to the risk factors of gastric cancer:

• Application of meta-research principles (methods, reporting, reproducibility, evaluation and incentives) in gastric cancer research
• Evaluation of biases in gastric cancer research
• Assessment of credibility in the risk factors in risk factors of gastric cancer

The Gastric Cancer Prevention Lab welcomes medical students, residents, GI fellows, and public health trainees interested in clinical research, disparities in cancer prevention, and implementation science. Opportunities include:

• Mentored research projects using national and community-based datasets
• Participation in manuscript development, abstract submission, and conference presentations
• Hands-on experience with survey design, data collection, and pilot implementation studies
• Engagement in cross-disciplinary collaborations with faculty in medicine, epidemiology, public health, and health policy