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Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH

Associate Dean of Research and Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases)
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Additional Titles

Deputy Director (Public Health), Yale Center for Clinical Investigation

Deputy Director, Yale Cancer Center

Contact Info

Chronic Disease Epidemiology

PO Box 208034, 60 College Street

New Haven, CT 06520-8034

United States

About

Titles

Associate Dean of Research and Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases)

Deputy Director (Public Health), Yale Center for Clinical Investigation; Deputy Director, Yale Cancer Center

Biography

Melinda L. Irwin, PhD, MPH is the Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Epidemiology and Associate Dean of Research at the Yale School of Public Health, Deputy Director of the Yale Cancer Center, and Deputy Director (Public Health) in the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation. Nationally, Dr. Irwin co-leads the SWOG Cancer Research Network Cancer Survivorship Committee. In 2018, Dr. Irwin completed the yearlong Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program. Dr. Irwin’s experience working across departments, schools, and with interdisciplinary groups of investigators has provided her with the skills to train and mentor effectively. 

Dr. Irwin is a prominent leader in the field of cancer prevention and survivorship research. Her research over the past 20 years has focused on randomized trials of exercise and weight loss on biological markers, treatment side effects and quality of life in people with diagnosed with cancer. She has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, American Institute for Cancer Research, Komen for the Cure, and Livestrong Foundation. She is currently leading an NCI-funded clinical trial examining the impact of nutrition and exercise on improving chemotherapy completion rate, endocrine therapy adherence, biomarkers, body composition and quality of life in women beginning chemotherapy for breast cancer, and a also leading a newly funded NCI U01 trial of exercise and nutrition on treatment outcomes in women newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer. 

Dr. Irwin is committed to training the next generation of scientists and is currently leading an NCI T32-funded Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program for pre- and post-doctoral fellows and an NCI R25-funded Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC) Training Program for early career investigators. At Yale, Dr. Irwin has advised, mentored and trained over 100 trainees. Her commitment to training the next generation of scientists is evident in the enthusiasm she brings to mentoring. Her vision is to maximize opportunities for early career investigators so they can become leaders in their respective fields and have a maximal impact on the health and well-being of patients and the population. 

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

MPH
University of Washington (2001)
PhD
University of South Carolina (1999)
MS
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1994)
BS
College of William and Mary (1992)

Research

Overview

Medical Research Interests

Breast Neoplasms; Exercise; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Obesity; Ovarian Neoplasms; Weight Loss

Public Health Interests

Cancer; Women's Health

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Melinda Irwin's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Get In Touch

Contacts

Academic Office Number
Office Fax Number
Mailing Address

Chronic Disease Epidemiology

PO Box 208034, 60 College Street

New Haven, CT 06520-8034

United States

Locations

  • 60 College Street

    Academic Office

    Ste 428

    New Haven, CT 06510

Events

Dec 202416Monday
Jan 202524Friday
Feb 202514Friday
Mar 202520Thursday