EVENTS

Agenda at a Glance: September 10th

Agenda at a Glance: September 10th

Understanding the research, and potential risks:

Get updates on research regarding EDCs, place-based environmental hazards, and health outcomes. Our team of researchers will breakdown the following:

Endocrine Disrupting chemicals and breast cancer disparities
Neighborhood-level differences in hair product safety
Examining personal care product use among women of color

Research Presenters include:

Robin Dodson, ScD - Silent Spring Institute

Elissia Franklin, PhD - Silent Spring Institute

Tamarra James-Todd, PhD - Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, PhD - University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

Ashlie Santaliz Casiano, PhD - National Cancer Institute

Jazma Tapia, PhD -City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dede Teteh-Brooks, DrPH - UT MD Anderson Cancer Center (effective 9/3)

Tiah Tomlin-Harris, MS - My Style Matters, Inc

Examining Personal Care Product Use Among Women of Color

This session will explore the intersection of social determinants and personal care product use among women of color, highlighting key research findings and their implications. Attendees will gain insights into how various social factors influence product choices and exposures. Additionally, the discussion will focus on effective strategies for translating complex research into accessible information for broad audiences, ensuring that findings reach and resonate with diverse communities.

Robin Dodson, ScD

Silent Spring Institute

Dr. Dodson is an exposure scientist at Silent Spring Institute, specializing in novel exposure measurements and environmental data analysis, with a focus on semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and chemical exposure interventions. Her research examines the impact of chemicals, including endocrine disruptors, on health outcomes like asthma, reproductive development, and breast cancer. Dr. Dodson's work has led to effective exposure reduction strategies in homes. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Boston University School of Public Health.

Elissia Franklin, PhD

Silent Spring Institute

Dr. Elissia Franklin is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Silent Spring Institute, specializing in chemical exposure risks from consumer products and community engagement strategies. With a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University, her expertise includes mass spectrometry-based chemical characterization and non-targeted analysis methods. Dr. Franklin is dedicated to making environmental health knowledge accessible to marginalized communities and hosts "The Research Her" podcast, which highlights research aimed at improving the lives of traditionally neglected groups.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Breast Cancer Disparities

This session will explore the vital connection between endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure and breast cancer development, focusing on its implications for socially disadvantaged populations. Attendees will gain insights into how EDCs influence breast cancer risk and why addressing these exposures is crucial for reducing health disparities.

Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, PhD

University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

Dr. Madak-Erdogan is an Associate Professor of Nutrition and Sylvia D. Stroup Scholar of Nutrition and Cancer at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Since 2014, her lab has focused on how hormones and environmental factors impact metabolic health and cancer disparities, using advanced computational analysis of –OMICs data. She mentors students across all levels and teaches courses on health disparities, cancer metabolism, and women’s health. Dr. Madak-Erdogan has received numerous awards and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

Ashlie Santaliz Casiano, PhD

National Cancer Institute

Dr. Ashlie Santaliz Casiano is a multidisciplinary postdoctoral researcher at the National Cancer Institute, specializing in molecular epidemiology and cancer biology. Originally from Puerto Rico, she focuses on the interplay between social determinants of health, genetic factors, and metastasis risk in cancer patients. Her research examines germline genetics' role in shaping the immune environment in prostate cancer among African American, European American, and Ghanaian men. Committed to diversity and inclusion, she leads national mentorship programs to empower students in cancer research.

Neighborhood-level Differences in Hair Product Safety

Tamarra James-Todd, PhD

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Dr. Tamarra James-Todd is an epidemiologist at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her research focuses on how environmental chemicals affect women's reproductive health, particularly during pregnancy, and the role these chemicals play in racial/ethnic health disparities. She also investigates the links between pregnancy complications and long-term risks of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Her work includes developing interventions to reduce these risks, particularly for women affected by gestational diabetes.

Empowering Black Beauty: Your Guide to Health, Hair Products, and Breast Cancer Awareness

This session will delve into essential aspects of breast health, shedding light on the ongoing disparities in breast cancer outcomes, particularly within the Black community. We will explore the role of harmful chemicals, especially endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), commonly found in personal care products that disproportionately impact Black women and may increase the risk of breast cancer. By the end of the session, participants will have a deeper understanding of how these factors intersect with racial identity and how they can make informed choices to protect their health.

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Jazma Tapia, PhD

City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Jazma Leona Tapia earned her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from California State University, Los Angeles, and her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, with a focus on Cancer Metabolism and Population Sciences, from the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. Currently, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at COH, she studies the effects of estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in personal care products on breast cancer risk and progression. Dr. Tapia is also recognized as a FLARE Fellow, NCI T32 Fellow, and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Diversity Enrichment Program Fellow.

Dede Teteh-Brooks, DrPH

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center (effective 9/3)

Dr. Dede K. Teteh-Brooks, DrPH, MPH, CHES, is a public health professional with nearly 20 years of experience in academia, research, and policy. Her NIH-funded research focuses on cancer survivorship disparities and community-based interventions for under-resourced populations. She founded the Bench to Community Initiative, studying endocrine-disrupting chemicals in personal care products and breast cancer risk among Black women. Starting September 3rd, she will be an Assistant Professor at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Tiah Tomlin-Harris, MS

Tiah Tomlin-Harris, My Style Matters, Inc

Tiah Tomlin-Harris, a survivor of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, is a dedicated advocate and community change agent focused on health disparities, Black women's health, and healthy lifestyle education. Following her diagnosis at a young age, she founded the My Breast Years Ahead sisterhood and co-founded My Style Matters, a nonprofit supporting underserved families impacted by cancer. Tiah is a Cancer Coach, Breast Health Educator, and Project Lead graduate with the National Breast Cancer Coalition, advocating for survivors on Capitol Hill and serving on multiple boards. Recognized with President Bush’s Point of Light Award, she has published research, spoken at major conferences, and continues to inspire action through her advocacy.