Leah Ferrucci, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases)DownloadHi-Res Photo
Cards
Contact Info
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
60 College Street, PO Box 208034
New Haven, CT 06520
United States
About
Copy Link
Titles
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases)
Biography
Leah M. Ferrucci, PhD, MPH is an assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health. Dr. Ferrucci earned her BA from the University of Pennsylvania and her MPH in the Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health. She received a PhD in nutritional cancer epidemiology through a joint training program with Yale University and the National Cancer Institute. Throughout her career, Dr. Ferrucci has focused on modifiable cancer risk factors, including nutrition and ultraviolet radiation related exposures, as well as cancer survivorship. She has worked not only in the study of the etiology of early-onset basal cell carcinoma (e.g. indoor tanning, alcohol intake, tea, coffee, and caffeine), but also translating these findings into behavioral interventions to reduce indoor tanning in young women and adolescent girls. Dr. Ferrucci is also studying diet quality, obesity, energetics, metabolomics, and the microbiome in the context of weight loss and lifestyle intervention trials for breast cancer survivors and ovarian cancer survivors.
Last Updated on December 01, 2024.
Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Prevention and Control
- Obesity Research Working Group
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale School of Public Health
Education & Training
- PhD
- Yale University (2009)
- MPH
- Yale School of Public Health (2006)
Research
Copy Link
Overview
Understanding ultraviolet radiation exposure in skin cancer survivors
Understanding and preventing indoor tanning among young adults and adolescents
Diet quality and food insecurity in female cancers survivors
Microbiome and metabolomics in relation to weight loss in breast cancers survivors
Dietary meat intake and colorectal neoplasia
Needs of long-term cancer survivors
Diet quality and chemotherapy related side effects
Medical Research Interests
Breast Neoplasms; Chronic Disease; Colorectal Neoplasms; Diet; Epidemiology; Metabolomics; Public Health; Skin Neoplasms; Survivors; Tanning
Public Health Interests
Cancer; Nutrition
ORCID
0000-0001-9488-7586
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Leah Ferrucci's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Leah Ferrucci's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Leah Ferrucci is interested in exploring.
Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH
Brenda Cartmel, PhD
Tara Sanft, MD
Leah Puklin, PhD, MPH
David J Leffell, MDCM, MD
Fangyong Li, MS, MPH
40Publications
748Citations
Skin Neoplasms
Breast Neoplasms
Diet
Colorectal Neoplasms
Survivors
Publications
2026
Temporal trends and sociodemographic differences in influenza vaccination among U.S. cancer survivors, 2005-2024.
Conlin K, Mszar R, Ma Z, Cartmel B, Dinan M, Irwin M, Ferrucci L. Temporal trends and sociodemographic differences in influenza vaccination among U.S. cancer survivors, 2005-2024. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2026, 44: 1674-1674. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.1674.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsU.S. cancer survivorsAnnual percent changeHistory of cancerCancer survivorsSelf-reported historyVaccination prevalenceYoung survivorsSample of cancer survivorsNon-Hispanic white survivorsNational Health Interview SurveySurvey-weighted logistic regression modelsFactors associated with influenza vaccinationHealth Interview SurveyAnnual prevalence estimatesTemporal trendsInfluenza vaccinePrevalence of influenza vaccinationPublic health strategiesUptake of seasonal influenza vaccinationLogistic regression modelsHispanic survivorsWhite survivorsHealth strategiesInterview SurveySociodemographic differencesDifferences in the receipt of recommended cardiovascular assessment among cancer survivors in the United States by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease status.
Mszar R, Alpert A, Gallardo-Vara E, Kang E, Conlin K, Barac A, Hull S, Baldassarre L, Dinan M, Irwin M, Ferrucci L. Differences in the receipt of recommended cardiovascular assessment among cancer survivors in the United States by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease status. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2026, 44: 12027-12027. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.12027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCancer survivorsAtherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseProportion of cancer survivorsNational Health Interview SurveyPre-existing atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseHealth Interview SurveyConfidence intervalsInitial cancer diagnosisNoninstitutionalized U.S. populationPast-yearCardiovascular disease statusMultivariate logistic regressionCancer survivorshipScreening ratesCross-sectional dataLevel of educationInterview SurveySociodemographic characteristicsSocioeconomic statusSuboptimal uptakeMultistage samplingOdds ratioCancer diagnosisSelf-ReportU.S. populationMotivation to Participate in a Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study
Puklin L, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Ferrucci L, Cartmel B, Zupa M, Deyling M, Sanft T, Sharifi M, Irwin M. Motivation to Participate in a Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study. Psycho-Oncology 2026, 35: e70472. PMID: 42025931, PMCID: PMC13106104, DOI: 10.1002/pon.70472.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsExercise interventionOncologists' recommendationsBreast cancerPhysical activity interventionsStage I-III breast cancerI-III breast cancerActive cancer treatmentSemi-structured interviewsUsual careCombined nutritionActivity interventionsClinical providersIntervention armLifestyle interventionLifestyle factorsChemotherapy adherenceThematic analysisQualitative studyDrivers of motivationExerciseInterventionLifestyleWomen's motivationsAltruistic desireNutritionBlood‐based proteomic profiling reveals context‐dependent changes in BCL2‐associated signaling during taxane therapy in breast cancer patients
Munshani S, Ibrahim E, Rodwin R, Ferrucci L, Blenman K, Lustberg M, Ehrlich B. Blood‐based proteomic profiling reveals context‐dependent changes in BCL2‐associated signaling during taxane therapy in breast cancer patients. FEBS Open Bio 2026 PMID: 41883148, DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.70239.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsReverse phase proteomic arraysBreast cancer patientsSide effects of chemotherapyEffects of chemotherapySide effectsCancer patientsKaplan-Meier survival curvesProtein expressionActivation of stress response pathwaysSenescent-associated secretory phenotypeStress response pathwaysLong-term outcomesNon-interventional studyCalcium signaling dysregulationCourse of treatmentSignaling-related proteinsBCL2 familyTaxane therapyProteomic dataChemotherapy timingCancer recurrenceSurvival curvesCancer therapyProteome arrayChemotherapyResearch Priorities and Future Directions in Cardio-Oncology
Mszar R, Ali A, Hull S, Ferrucci L, Baldassarre L, Khera R, Irwin M, Clasen S. Research Priorities and Future Directions in Cardio-Oncology. Current Treatment Options In Oncology 2026, 27: 4. PMID: 41484494, DOI: 10.1007/s11864-025-01366-w.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsIndividual health outcomesCancer survivorsSocial determinantsSocial determinants of healthQuality-of-care metricsCardiovascular diseaseCardio-oncology rehabilitationHealthy lifestyle behaviorsDeterminants of healthCancer risk factorsCardio-OncologyRisk factorsEvidence-based strategiesContemporary clinical guidelinesHealth equityLifestyle behaviorsLong-term cardiac surveillanceHealth outcomesHealth disciplinesCardiac radiation exposureTreatment continuumEvidence gapsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsInnovative clinical trialsClinical guidelines
2025
Effect of a lifestyle intervention during chemotherapy for breast cancer on quality of life
Puklin L, Li F, Ferrucci L, Cartmel B, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Zupa M, Ligibel J, Sanft T, Irwin M. Effect of a lifestyle intervention during chemotherapy for breast cancer on quality of life. JNCI Cancer Spectrum 2025, 10: pkaf125. PMID: 41452765, PMCID: PMC12803784, DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkaf125.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates whether a yearlong nutrition and exercise program during chemotherapy improves quality of life in breast cancer patients, finding no significant benefits compared to usual care.Body mass index and chemotherapy completion among patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer
Cao A, Cartmel B, Ratner E, Li F, Schlumbrecht M, Kumar A, Crane T, Esserman D, Irwin M, Ferrucci L. Body mass index and chemotherapy completion among patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer. JNCI Cancer Spectrum 2025, 10: pkaf121. PMID: 41442446, PMCID: PMC12854082, DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkaf121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBody mass indexRelative dose intensityDose intensityOvarian cancerMass indexChemotherapy completionDose modificationRetrospective cohortRetrospective cohort of patientsContemporary treatment eraChemotherapy dose intensityHigher body surface areaHigher Body Mass IndexCohort of patientsBody surface areaBody composition dataAverage RDIDose cappingHigher RDIHematologic toxicityOvarian Cancer StudyAssociated with lower complianceDose reductionTreatment eraChemotherapyDiet and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer JACC: CardioOncology State-of-the-Art Review
Hull S, Mszar R, Ostfeld R, Ferrucci L, Mucci L, Giovannucci E, Loeb S. Diet and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer JACC: CardioOncology State-of-the-Art Review. JACC CardioOncology 2025, 7: 649-667. PMID: 40879583, PMCID: PMC12790080, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccao.2025.07.008.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricConceptsPrevention of cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular disease mortalityIntake of red meatLeading risk factorUltraprocessed foodsHealthy choicesImplementation scienceLifestyle factorsPoor dietExcessive intakeStandard American dietRed meatLife expectancyRisk factorsPathophysiology of cardiovascular diseaseAmerican dietPreventionUnited StatesTrial dataMortalityCancerLifestyleSmokingDietAddressing conceptual and design gaps in the oncology nutrition evidence base during chemotherapy: contributions of the Exercise and Nutrition Interventions to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes Consortium
Compton S, Wopat H, Lopez-Pentecost M, Agurs-Collins T, Brown J, Caan B, Demark-Wahnefried W, Elena J, Ferrucci L, McGowan C, Puklin L, Schmitz K, Thomson C, Robien K, Crane T, Caan B, Anderson S, Bahia H, Castillo A, Feliciano E, Johnson K, Ross M, Weltzein E, Brown J, Compton S, Green T, Nauta P, Yang S, Meyerhardt J, Dieli-Conwright C, Nguyen D, Pena A, Spielmann G, Kim Y, Evans W, Bea J, Blew R, Thomson C, Crane T, Camacho V, Cespedes V, Erlandsen S, Freylersythe S, Hollander K, Lopez-Pentecost M, Penedo F, Rolle L, Rossi P, Schlumbrecht M, Wheeler M, Irwin M, Cao A, Cartmel B, Ferrucci L, Gottlieb L, Harrigan M, Li F, McGowan C, Puklin L, Elena R, Sanft T, Zupa M, Berger N, Cerne S, Mills C, Conochan S, Hundal J, Owusu C, Pink J, Ligibel J, Campbell N, DiGuglielmo K, Kemp W, Maples-Campbell C, Nguyen T, Oppenheim J, Tanasijevic A, Thomson C, Yung A, Basen-Engquist K, Loomba P, Chinchilli V, Schmitz K, Binder J, Doerksen S, Foldi J, Garrett S, Scalise R, Sobolewski M, Scott J, Cercek A, Cai S, Cao S, Furberg H, Harrison J, Jones L, Lee C, Levine R, Michalski M, Moskowitz C, Meara A, Rabazzi J, Stoeckel K, Salz T, Weiser M, Yu A, Demark-Wahnefried W, Robien K, Evans S, DiPietro L, Duong B, Edelstein S, Helmchen L, Le D, McCleary C, Tjaden A, Wopat H, Rabin B, Perna F, Agurs-Collins T, Czajkowski S, Elena J, Nebeling L, Norton W. Addressing conceptual and design gaps in the oncology nutrition evidence base during chemotherapy: contributions of the Exercise and Nutrition Interventions to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes Consortium. Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2025, 117: 2441-2451. PMID: 40680173, PMCID: PMC12682377, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djaf143.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsNutritional interventionPractice guidelinesNutrition practice guidelinesActive cancer treatmentDevelopment of practice guidelinesScientific rigor of researchNutrition evidence baseNutritional assessment toolCancer continuumScientific rigorCancer preventionTreatment-related outcomesLong-term survivorshipEvidence baseAssessment toolInterventionExerciseRigor of researchConceptual frameworkCancer treatmentResearch ConsortiumNutritionCompletion of chemotherapyGuidelinesCancerBreastfeeding attributable fraction of triple negative breast cancer in the US
Chehayeb R, Odzer N, Albany R, Ferrucci L, Sarpong D, Perez-Escamilla R, Lewis J, Phipps A, Meisner A, Pusztai L. Breastfeeding attributable fraction of triple negative breast cancer in the US. Npj Breast Cancer 2025, 11: 40. PMID: 40328734, PMCID: PMC12055980, DOI: 10.1038/s41523-025-00755-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPopulation-attributable fractionTriple negative breast cancerWhite womenBlack womenNon-Hispanic white womenNegative breast cancerRisk factorsBreast cancerPooled odds ratioAttributable fractionLevin's formulaRacial disparitiesBreastfeeding durationOdds ratioBreastfeedingYounger ageWomenDisparitiesPubMed searchRiskAgeCancerMonthsPubMedBirth
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Trial of Exercise and Lifestyle (TEAL) for Women with Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer
IRB ID2000032524RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2027Recruiting ParticipantsMolecular Markers of UV Exposure and Cancer Risk in Skin
IRB ID2000024848RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date03/31/2024Recruiting Participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Copy Link
Honors
honor Best Poster Award
03/09/2014National AwardAmerican Society of Preventive OncologyDetailsUnited Stateshonor Loan Repayment Program
07/01/2013National AwardNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthDetailsUnited Stateshonor Outstanding Student Paper Prize
09/15/2009National AwardAmerican College of EpidemiologyDetailsUnited States
News
Copy Link
News
- November 15, 2025Source: The Washington Post
Study offers clues on rise of colorectal cancer in women under 50
- August 07, 2023
New Yale Study Shows Aerobic Exercise Relieves Pain for Ovarian Cancer Survivors
- February 19, 2023
Addressing Disparities in Breast Cancer
- March 15, 2022
Yale Cancer Center and School of Public Health Receive Grant to Study Lifestyle Intervention in Women with Ovarian Cancer
Get In Touch
Copy Link
Contacts
Academic Office Number
Mailing Address
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
60 College Street, PO Box 208034
New Haven, CT 06520
United States
Locations
Room 420
Academic Office
60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06510