Leah Ferrucci, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases)DownloadHi-Res Photo
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Chronic Disease Epidemiology
60 College Street, PO Box 208034
New Haven, CT 06520
United States
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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
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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
Nutrition; Cancer
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.
Brenda Cartmel, PhD
Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH
Tara Sanft, MD
David J Leffell, MDCM
Fangyong Li, MS, MPH
Leah Puklin, PhD, MPH
35Publications
607Citations
Skin Neoplasms
Breast Neoplasms
Diet
Colorectal Neoplasms
Survivors
Publications
2025
Diet 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 PMID: 40879583, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccao.2025.07.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPrevention 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, djaf143. PMID: 40680173, 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 chemotherapyGuidelinesCancerAccelerated Aging in Cancer and Cancer Treatment: Current Status of Biomarkers
Abraham S, Parekh J, Lee S, Afrin H, Rozenblit M, Blenman K, Perry R, Ferrucci L, Liu J, Irwin M, Lustberg M. Accelerated Aging in Cancer and Cancer Treatment: Current Status of Biomarkers. Cancer Medicine 2025, 14: e70929. PMID: 40322791, PMCID: PMC12051034, DOI: 10.1002/cam4.70929.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBiological age of patientsLeukocyte telomere lengthInterleukin-6Treatment-related toxicityAge of patientsTherapy-induced toxicityExpression of p16INK4aPredictors of toxicityStatus of biomarkersMarkers of cellular senescenceRadiation therapyBiological ageCancer patientsCancer therapyFunctional reserveAging biomarkersPhysiological reserveCancer treatmentCancerConfirmatory studiesTherapyClinical practiceFunctional capacityPatientsFunctional status
2024
Baseline predictors associated with successful weight loss among breast cancer survivors in the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) study
Hoobler R, Puklin L, Harrigan M, Cartmel B, Li F, Sanft T, Ferrucci L, Irwin M, Playdon M. Baseline predictors associated with successful weight loss among breast cancer survivors in the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) study. Journal Of Cancer Survivorship 2024, 1-9. PMID: 39528779, DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01702-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsBreast cancer survivorsClinically meaningful weight lossCancer survivorsWeight loss interventionCancer SurvivorsBreast cancer survivorsWeight loss successConclusionBreast cancer survivorsPrevention of weight gainAssociated with lower oddsHistory of weight gainHealthy body weightMultivariate logistic regressionCancer treatmentSuccessful weight lossBreast cancer treatmentIntervention armLower oddsResultsBaseline dataDesign of programsWeight lossLogistic regressionC-statisticWeight gainSurvivorsInterventionBarriers to and facilitators of improving physical activity and nutrition behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: a sequential mixed methods study
Puklin L, Irwin M, Sanft T, Ferrucci L, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Cartmel B, Zupa M, Winer E, Deyling M, Ligibel J, Basen-Engquist K, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M. Barriers to and facilitators of improving physical activity and nutrition behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: a sequential mixed methods study. Supportive Care In Cancer 2024, 32: 590. PMID: 39141176, DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08789-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPhysical activityLifestyle interventionSelf-reported PA questionnaireSelf-reported diet qualityBreast cancerHealthy Eating Index-2015Stage I-III breast cancerBenefits of PASequential mixed methods studyI-III breast cancerChemotherapy-related symptomsMixed methods studyThematic content analysisBehavioral goalsSense of controlBody mass indexPA questionnaireSemi-structured interviewsMean body mass indexTranscribed verbatimIntervention armTailored educationDiet qualityNutritional behaviorMental benefitsExercise and Nutrition to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (ENICTO)
Schmitz K, Brown J, Irwin M, Robien K, Scott J, Berger N, Caan B, Cercek A, Crane T, Evans S, Ligibel J, Meyerhardt J, Agurs-Collins T, Basen-Engquist K, Bea J, Cai S, Cartmel B, Chinchilli V, Demark-Wahnefried W, Dieli-Conwright C, DiPietro L, Doerksen S, Edelstein S, Elena J, Evans W, Ferrucci L, Foldi J, Freylersythe S, Furberg H, Jones L, Levine R, Moskowitz C, Owusu C, Penedo F, Rabin B, Ratner E, Rosenzweig M, Salz T, Sanft T, Schlumbrecht M, Spielmann G, Thomson C, Tjaden A, Weiser M, Yang S, Yu A, Perna F, Caan B, Anderson S, Bahia H, Castillo A, Feliciano E, Johnson K, Ross M, Weltzein E, Brown J, Albarado B, Compton S, Green T, Nash R, Nauta P, Welch M, Yang S, Meyerhardt J, Dieli-Conwright C, Nguyen D, Pena A, Spielmann G, Kim Y, Evans W, Bea J, Blew R, Crane T, Bhatti A, Clavon R, 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, Ratner E, Sanft T, Zupa M, Berger N, Cerne S, Mills C, Conochan S, Hundal J, Owusu C, 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, White L, Scott J, Cercek A, Cai S, Cao S, Furberg H, Harrison J, Jones L, Lee C, Levine R, Michalski M, Moskowitz C, Novo R, 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. Exercise and Nutrition to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (ENICTO). Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2024, 117: 9-19. PMID: 39118255, PMCID: PMC11717426, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djae177.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSelf-reported physical functionTreatment-related outcomesTreatment-related side effectsRisk of suboptimal outcomesExercise interventionOncology carePhysical functionNational Cancer InstituteNutrition ProgramIntervention effectsCommon data elementsExerciseCancer InstituteCommunity opportunitiesData elementsStandard of careInterventionCareCancer patientsNutritionRelative dose intensityOutcomesSuboptimal outcomesCancer treatmentChemotherapy relative dose intensityImproving lifestyle behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) Trial
Puklin L, Ferrucci L, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Zupa M, Cartmel B, Li F, Ligibel J, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M, Sanft T, Irwin M. Improving lifestyle behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) Trial. Cancer 2024, 130: 2440-2452. PMID: 38470431, PMCID: PMC11214600, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35280.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPhysical activityDiet qualityHEI-2015Strength trainingLifestyle behaviorsHealthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015Breast cancerAssociated with baseline fatigueImprove physical activityImprove lifestyle behaviorsHigher HEI-2015Associated with higher oddsExercise interventionUsual careIntervention armIntervention groupBaseline fatigueLifestyle interventionYearlong interventionLower fatigueHigher oddsSecondary analysisLogistic regressionNewly diagnosed patientsStudy armsProlonged length of stay and omission of adjuvant therapy are associated with early mortality after pancreatic adenocarcinoma resection
Ying L, Ilagan-Ying Y, Kunstman J, Peters N, Almeida M, Blackburn H, Ferrucci L, Billingsley K, Khan S, Chhoda A, John N, Salem R, Sharma A, Ahuja N. Prolonged length of stay and omission of adjuvant therapy are associated with early mortality after pancreatic adenocarcinoma resection. Surgical Oncology Insight 2024, 1: 100007. DOI: 10.1016/j.soi.2024.100007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFactors associated with early mortalityCases of pancreatic adenocarcinomaPancreatic adenocarcinoma resectionRisk of early mortalityLength of stayEarly mortalityAdjuvant chemotherapyPancreatic adenocarcinomaChemotherapy utilizationAdenocarcinoma resectionRisk factors associated with early mortalityOmission of adjuvant therapyNon-metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinomaMultivariate Cox regression modelAssociated with early mortalityPost-resection survivalIncreased risk of early mortalityParticipant Use FileProlonged hospital stayProlonged length of stayAdjuvant chemotherapy utilizationDecrease perioperative complicationsCox regression modelsNon-academic centersHospital risk factorsAssociation between diet quality and ovarian cancer risk and survival
Cao A, Esserman D, Cartmel B, Irwin M, Ferrucci L. Association between diet quality and ovarian cancer risk and survival. Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2024, 116: 1095-1104. PMID: 38400738, PMCID: PMC11223874, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djae040.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsOvarian cancer riskAll-Cause MortalityAssociated with lower all-cause mortalityDiet qualityCancer riskOvarian cancer diagnosisAssociated with ovarian cancer riskPre-DiagnosisProspective NIH-AARP DietHealthy Eating Index-2015Cancer diagnosisNIH-AARP DietStop Hypertension scoreCancer registry dataEpithelial ovarian cancerMediterranean diet scoreFood frequency questionnaireCox proportional hazards regressionOvarian cancerProportional hazards regressionHEI-2015Health StudyHypertension scoreDiet scoreFrequency questionnaireUnited States Long-Term Trends in Adult BMI (1959–2018): Unraveling the Roots of the Obesity Epidemic
Banas J, Cook A, Raygoza-Cortez K, Davila D, Irwin M, Ferrucci L, Humphries D. United States Long-Term Trends in Adult BMI (1959–2018): Unraveling the Roots of the Obesity Epidemic. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2024, 21: 73. PMID: 38248537, PMCID: PMC10815706, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsNational Health Examination SurveyExamination SurveyObesity epidemicBody mass index (BMI) trendsOngoing obesity epidemicCritical public health challengeNutrition Examination SurveyHealth Examination SurveyRates of obesityPublic health challengePopulation-level interventionsBMI growth rateEffective population-level interventionsRace/ethnicityAverage BMIAdult BMINational HealthBMI trendsHigh school educationWhite adultsAge groupsBlack adultsHealth challengesBMIRacial disparities
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Trial of Exercise and Lifestyle (TEAL) for Women with Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer
HIC ID2000032524RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2027Recruiting ParticipantsMolecular Markers of UV Exposure and Cancer Risk in Skin
HIC ID2000024848RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date03/31/2024Recruiting Participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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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
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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
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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