Education
Ph.D. – Epidemiology, University of Memphis
M.P.H. – Epidemiology, Texas A&M University
M.B.B.S. – Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MD equivalent), Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University, India
Areas of Expertise
Epigenetics
Cancer Disparities – Screening and Outcomes
Geospatial Informatics
Introduction
Dr. Rutu Rathod studies cancer disparities and the impact of individual and neighborhood exposures on epigenetic changes linked to cancer risk and outcomes.
Credentials, Accreditations, and Awards
2024 Globe Life Pilot Award, Individual and neighborhood barriers to liver transplant WAIT listing (IN-WAIT)
2022 P20 Developmental Research Program Pilot Award, Racial and ethnic disparities, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and DNA methylation in post-treatment obesity among pediatric ALL survivors
Teaching Focus
Dr. Rathod’s teaching centers on public health courses, with an emphasis on epidemiological methods, cancer epidemiology, and epigenetic epidemiology. Her approach integrates real-world data and the latest research to prepare students with the skills needed to address public health challenges.
Research Overview
Her research focuses on cancer disparities in screening, risk and outcomes. She aims to a) identify how certain exposures, lifestyle choices and socioeconomic conditions induce epigenetic changes; b) identify high-risk geographic areas and epigenetic markers to explain increased cancer susceptibility and poor outcomes, particularly in relation to neighborhood, socioeconomic and racial disparities.
Selected Recent Books or Publications
- Yi S*, Rathod R*, Natchimuthu VS, Bhalla S, Lee JL, Browning T, Adesina JO, Do M, Balis D, de Williams JG, Kitchell E, Santini NO, Johnson DH, Hamann HA, Lee SJC, Hughes AE, Gerber DE. Geographic accessibility and completion of initial low-dose CT-based lung cancer screening in an urban, safety-net population. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2024; 23:1-7. PMID: 38670152. *Equal contribution.
- Hoang TT, Rathod R, Rosales O, Castellanos M, Schraw JM, Burgess E, Peckham-Gregory EC, Oluyomi AO, Scheurer ME, Hughes AE, Lupo PJ. Residential Proximity to Oil and Gas Developments and Childhood Cancer Survival. Cancer. 2024 Nov 1; 130(21):3724-3733. PMID: 38922855.
- Rathod R, Zhang H, Karmaus W, Ewart S, Mzayek F, Arshad SH, Holloway JH. Association of childhood BMI trajectory with post-adolescent and adult lung function is mediated by pre-adolescent DNA methylation. Respir Res. 2022; 23(1):194. PMCID: PMC9335987.
- Patel R*, Solatikia F*, Zhang H, Wolde A, Kadalayil L, Karmaus W, Ewart S, Arathimos R, Relton C, Ring S, Henderson AJ, Arshad SH, Holloway JW. Sex-specific associations of asthma acquisition with changes in DNA methylation during adolescence. Clin Exp Allergy. 2021; 51(2):318-328. PMCID: PMC9208368. *Equal contribution.
- Rathod R, Zhang H, Karmaus W, Ewart S, Kadalayil L, Relton C, Arshad SH, Holloway JH.BMI trajectory in childhood is associated with asthma incidence at young adulthood mediated by DNA methylation. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2021; 17 (1): PMCID: PMC8299682.
Fun Fact
I love to experiment with new recipes and occasionally set off the smoke alarm! I love binge-watching crime movies and series.