Karen Wernli’s epidemiological expertise focuses on women’s health and cancer. A ten-year veteran of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Dr. Wernli joined Group Health Research Institute (GHRI) in 2009, bringing broad experience that spans breast, colorectal, ovarian, and endometrial cancers.

Dr. Wernli’s 2006 dissertation at the University of Washington assessed the link between individual work history and cancer risk in textile workers in Shanghai, China—finding that exposure to silica dust increased the risk of both ovarian and endometrial cancers. Since coming to GHRI, she has focused more on breast cancer, seizing the opportunity to work with the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium—the National Cancer Institute’s seven-site network of mammography researchers.

Dr. Wernli serves as a reviewer for several journals, including the American Journal of Epidemiology and Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention. A
long-time member of the American Society for Preventive Oncology (ASPO), she works closely with their Young Investigators Group and served as the co-chair of their annual workshop in 2009. Dr. Wernli received the Prevent Cancer Foundation/ASPO Cancer Prevention Fellowship in 2008 for her work on medications, multivitamins, and breast cancer survival.

Top

Recent publications

Schur EA, Elmore JG, Onega T, Wernli KJ, Sickles E, Haneuse S. The impact of obesity on follow-up after an abnormal screening mammogram. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2012 Feb;21(2):327-36. Epub 2011 Dec 5. PubMed

Checkoway H, Ray RM, Lundin JI, Astrakianakis G, Seixas NS, Camp JE, Wernli KJ, Fitzgibbons ED, Li W, Feng Z, Gao DL, Thomas DB. Lung cancer and occupational exposures other than cotton dust and endotoxin among women textile workers in Shanghai, China. Occup Environ Med. 2011 Jun;68(6):425-9. Epub 2010 Dec 3.

Burnett-Hartman AN, Newcomb PA, Mandelson MT, Adams SV, Wernli KJ, Shadman M, Wurscher MA, Makar KW. Colorectal polyp type and the association with charred meat consumption, smoking, and microsomal epoxide hydrolase polymorphisms. Nutr Cancer. 2011;63(4):583-92. PubMed

Coghill AE, Newcomb PA, Chia VM, Zheng Y, Wernli KJ, Passarelli MN, Potter JD. Pre-diagnostic NSAID use but not hormone therapy is associated with improved colorectal cancer survival in women. Br J Cancer. 2011 Mar 1;104(5):763-8. Epub 2011 Feb 8. PubMed

Wernli KJ, Hampton JM, Trentham-Dietz A, Newcomb PA. Use of antidepressants and NSAIDs in relation to mortality in long-term breast cancer survivors. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2011;20(2):131-7. doi: 10.1002/pds.2064. PubMed

Wernli KJ, Newcomb PA, Wang Y, Makar KW, Shadman M, Chia VM, Burnett-Hartman A, Wurscher MA, Zheng Y, Mandelson MT. Body size, IGF and growth hormone polymorphisms, and colorectal adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2010;20(4):305-9. Epub 2010 May 26. PubMed

Braithwaite D, Wernli KJ, Anton-Culver H, Engstrom P, Greenberg ER, Meyskens F. Opportunities for cancer epidemiology and control in low- and middle-income countries: a report from the American Society for Preventive Oncology international cancer prevention interest group. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010 Jul;19(7):1665-7.

Astrakianakis G, Seixas NS, Ray R, Camp JE, Gao DL, Feng Z, Li W, Wernli KJ, Fitzgibbons ED, Thomas DB, Checkoway H. Re: Lung cancer risk among female textile workers exposed to endotoxin. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2010;102(12):913-4. Epub 2010 May 5. PubMed

Wong EY, Ray RM, Gao DL, Wernli KJ, Li W, Fitzgibbons ED, Camp JE, Heagerty P, Thomas DB, Checkoway H. Physical activity, physical exertion, and spontaneous abortion risk in women textile workers in Shanghai, China. Am J Ind Med 2010;53(5):497-505.

Newcomb PA, Wernli KJ Risk factors. In Breast Cancer Risk Reduction and Early Detection Strategies. Edited by E. Sauter and M. Daly. Springer. New York City, 2010, pages 3-22.

To view more publications, please see Dr. Wernli''s CV.

Top

 

Site map Contact us ghc.orgJobs

Copyright Group Health Cooperative