|
 April 18
Why me, Doc? What Scientists Know – and Don't Know – About the Causes of Cancer
David L. Eaton, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Provost for Research, University of Washington
Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
Director, Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health
This question is on the mind of nearly every cancer patient – and their families. What exactly is "cancer," and why does it occur in some people, but not others? Is it just "the luck of the draw," or are there genetic, lifestyle, dietary and environmental factors that are responsible? And if so, how important and controllable are they? This talk will address these basic questions, attempting to put into perspective what scientists know – and don't know- about the causes of cancer, and what individuals can do to lower their risk.
 About Dr. Eaton
David Eaton received his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in 1978. Following a post-doctoral fellowship in Toxicology at KUMC, he joined the faculty of the University of Washington in 1979. He served as Toxicology Program Director in the Department of Environmental Health from 1983-90, and then as Associate Chairman of the Department from 1990-92. He is currently Professor and Director of the Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, an NIEHS Center of Excellence, at the University of Washington, and Associate Dean for Research in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine. Dr. Eaton maintains his own active research and teaching program focused in the area of the molecular basis for environmental causes of cancer, and how human genetic differences in biotransformation enzymes may increase or decrease individual susceptibility to chemicals found in the environment. He also oversees an active program that develops interactive curricular materials in environmental health sciences for K-12 education. Nationally, he has served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of the American Board of Toxicology (1990-94), and as President of the Society of Toxicology. He has also served on the Board of Environmental Studies and Toxicology, National Academy of Sciences /National Resource Council (1996-99), as a member of the Board of Directors and Vice-President of the Toxicology Education Foundation, and as Associate Editor of Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. He is an Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Academy of Toxicological Sciences. He has published over 130 scientific articles and book chapters in the field of toxicology and risk assessment.
|
