Lauren McCullough, PhD, MSPH

Visiting Scientific Director
Epidemiology

My Motivation

After my dad passed from cancer in 2002, I committed my life to understanding and preventing cancer, improving outcomes in marginalized populations, and training the next generation of cancer scholars.”

At ACS since 2022

As Visiting Scientific Director of the Population Science Department, my primary role is to contribute to the growth and diversity of ACS cohorts and lead scientific efforts in breast cancer, social epidemiology, and outcomes research.

Research focus and accomplishments

My primary research interests are in cancer disparities and cancer outcomes. Specifically, I hope to understand the contributions of obesity and the social environment to tumor progression.

My research program integrates molecular, environmental and social epidemiology, as well as health services research. My research goals are to improve cancer outcomes in underserved populations using a multi-level approach to identify targets for pharmacologic, behavioral, and policy intervention.

I have served as Principal Investigator of 4 NIH and extramural awards and have mentored over 30 early-career faculty, postdoctoral and clinical fellows, doctoral and masters’ trainees—many from under-represented groups.

My research contributions have recently been recognized by national organizations including the American Association for Cancer Research (Best of Research Paper 2022) and the Society for Epidemiologic Research (Brian MacMahon Early Career Award 2019).

Publications

For a complete list of McCullough’s publications, see her NIH bibliography. 

Contact 

lauren.mccullough@cancer.org

Work before ACS

  • Emory University, Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health – Associate Professor 

Professional organizations

  • American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Member
  • Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (GA CORE), Board Member
  • National Cancer Institute Cohort Consortium, Member and Chair of the Associate Member Council (AMC) 
  • Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER), Member and Co-Chair of the Awards Committee 

Education

  • PhD: Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007-2013 
  • MSPH: Meharry Medical College, 2005-2007 
  • BA: Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 2001-2005

Personal life 

I live in Decatur, GA with my husband and 3 boys. When we’re not running between fields or gyms, I enjoy the arts, cooking, and dancing.