Margaret Wright

I have developed a program of research in molecular epidemiology and chemoprevention. Specifically, I utilize population-based and molecular approaches to investigate dietary factors and genetic variants that influence cancer risk. Most of my research focuses on elucidating the roles of phytanic acid – a largely unstudied saturated fatty acid that is obtained exclusively through our diets and whose metabolism generates significant amounts of reactive oxygen species – and genetic variation in the phytanic acid metabolism pathway in prostate carcinogenesis. I am also interested in the roles of telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number in cancer, and dietary and genetic influences on these risk factors.