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.
Trends and Disparities in the Use of Immunotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in the US.
Trends and Disparities in the Use of Immunotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Feb 03; 8(2):e2460243.
PMID: 39960669
The long road to unbiased estimates of pancreatic cancer incidence in the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome.
The long road to unbiased estimates of pancreatic cancer incidence in the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. Cancer. 2025 Feb 01; 131(3):e35722.
PMID: 39840930
Refining breast cancer genetic risk and biology through multi-ancestry fine-mapping analyses of 192 risk regions.
Refining breast cancer genetic risk and biology through multi-ancestry fine-mapping analyses of 192 risk regions. Nat Genet. 2025 Jan; 57(1):80-87.
PMID: 39753771
A multicenter phase 2 clinical trial of low-dose subcutaneous decitabine in myelofibrosis.
A multicenter phase 2 clinical trial of low-dose subcutaneous decitabine in myelofibrosis. Blood Adv. 2024 Nov 26; 8(22):5735-5743.
PMID: 39250708
Understanding genetic architecture of breast cancer: how can proteome-wide association studies contribute?
Understanding genetic architecture of breast cancer: how can proteome-wide association studies contribute? Br J Cancer. 2024 Dec; 131(12):1869-1870.
PMID: 39558062
Predicting pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer using a machine learning approach.
Predicting pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer using a machine learning approach. Breast Cancer Res. 2024 Oct 29; 26(1):148.
PMID: 39472970
Anticipation in families with MLH1-associated Lynch syndrome.
Anticipation in families with MLH1-associated Lynch syndrome. Cancer. 2025 Jan 01; 131(1):e35589.
PMID: 39435727
ASO Author Reflections: Breast-Conserving Surgery After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Quantitative Biomarkers and Disparities in the Precision-Medicine Era.
ASO Author Reflections: Breast-Conserving Surgery After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Quantitative Biomarkers and Disparities in the Precision-Medicine Era. Ann Surg Oncol. 2024 Dec; 31(13):8904-8905.
PMID: 39313726
Quantitative Biomarkers, Genomic Assays, and Demographics Associated with Breast-Conserving Surgery Following Neoadjuvant Therapy in Early-Stage, Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER-Negative Breast Cancer.
Quantitative Biomarkers, Genomic Assays, and Demographics Associated with Breast-Conserving Surgery Following Neoadjuvant Therapy in Early-Stage, Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER-Negative Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2024 Dec; 31(13):8829-8842.
PMID: 39251516
Case-Case Genome-Wide Analyses Identify Subtype-Informative Variants That Confer Risk for Breast Cancer.
Case-Case Genome-Wide Analyses Identify Subtype-Informative Variants That Confer Risk for Breast Cancer. Cancer Res. 2024 Aug 01; 84(15):2533-2548.
PMID: 38832928
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