Dr. Huo’s research interests focus on the genetic, molecular, and environmental factors underlying etiology, prognosis, and treatment of cancers, particularly as they relate to cancer in underserved populations. His research spans across several areas of cancer epidemiology and clinical epidemiology, including:
1. Genetic epidemiology of breast cancer, particular in women of African ancestry with the use of genome-wide association and whole genome sequencing approach.
2. Environmental and lifestyle factors for breast cancer etiology in African women and risk prediction model building, and strategy for cancer screening.
3. Health disparity in breast cancer outcomes in multiethnic patient cohort study with multi-dimensional data.
4. Investigation of the utilization and effectiveness of cancer treatment in real world using Big data.
5. Prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol and clear cell adenocarcinoma of vagina and cervix, as well as other health conditions in later life.
6. Epigenetics and non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs in relationship to cancer prognosis and survival.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy Use for Hormone Receptor-Positive, ERBB2-Negative Breast Cancer After RxPONDER Trial.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy Use for Hormone Receptor-Positive, ERBB2-Negative Breast Cancer After RxPONDER Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Dec 01; 8(12):e2549109.
PMID: 41632146
The African-Specific Variant in the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines Gene, CD8+ T-Cell Density, and Aggressive Breast Cancer Subtypes in Black Women.
The African-Specific Variant in the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines Gene, CD8+ T-Cell Density, and Aggressive Breast Cancer Subtypes in Black Women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2025 Sep 02; 34(9):1509-1515.
PMID: 40627176
Integration of Gene Expression and Digital Histology to Predict Treatment-Specific Responses in Breast Cancer.
Integration of Gene Expression and Digital Histology to Predict Treatment-Specific Responses in Breast Cancer. medRxiv. 2025 Aug 27.
PMID: 40909848
Quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic and survival outcomes among breast cancer survivors.
Quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic and survival outcomes among breast cancer survivors. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2025 Nov; 214(2):205-214.
PMID: 40815344
Multi-Ancestry Transcriptome-wide Association Studies Uncover New Insights into Breast Cancer Genetics and Biology.
Multi-Ancestry Transcriptome-wide Association Studies Uncover New Insights into Breast Cancer Genetics and Biology. medRxiv. 2025 Aug 13.
PMID: 40832405
Integrating multi-ancestry genomic and proteomic data to identify blood risk biomarkers and target proteins for breast cancer genetic risk loci.
Integrating multi-ancestry genomic and proteomic data to identify blood risk biomarkers and target proteins for breast cancer genetic risk loci. Int J Cancer. 2025 Nov 15; 157(10):2071-2080.
PMID: 40658085
Clinical Trial Discussion and Participation in a Breast Cancer Cohort by Race and Ethnicity.
Clinical Trial Discussion and Participation in a Breast Cancer Cohort by Race and Ethnicity. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 06 02; 8(6):e2515205.
PMID: 40504527
Longitudinal Changes in Stress and Isolation Among Multi-Ethnic Breast Cancer Survivors Throughout COVID-19.
Longitudinal Changes in Stress and Isolation Among Multi-Ethnic Breast Cancer Survivors Throughout COVID-19. Stress Health. 2025 Jun; 41(3):e70063.
PMID: 40530703
Deep Learning on Histopathological Images to Predict Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk and Chemotherapy Benefit.
Deep Learning on Histopathological Images to Predict Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk and Chemotherapy Benefit. medRxiv. 2025 May 16.
PMID: 40661301
A Breast Cancer Polygenic Risk Score Validation in 15,490 Brazilians Using Exome Sequencing.
A Breast Cancer Polygenic Risk Score Validation in 15,490 Brazilians Using Exome Sequencing. Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 Apr 25; 15(9).
PMID: 40361916
Study section of P01
NIH/NCI
2019
Study section of R01/R21
NIH/NCI
2018 - 2023
Study section of U01, H3Africa
NIH/NHGRI
2017
Study section of P01
NIH/NCI
2017
Runner-up in the Up For A Challenge – Stimulating Innovation in Breast Cancer Genetic Epidemiology
National Cancer Institute
2016
Study section of U54
NIH/NIMHD
2015
Distinguished Investigator Junior Award
University of Chicago
2014
Breast Cancer Research Program study section
U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
2013 - 2014
Breast Cancer Research Program study section
U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
2010
Breast Cancer Research Program study section
U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
2008
Delta Omega
National Honor Society in Public Health
2005
Haenszel Award for Excellence in Research
University of Illinois at Chicago
2005
Student Travel Award
University of Illinois at Chicago
2000