Mariana C. Stern

Mariana Carla Stern(born April 15, 1967) is an Argentinecancer epidemiologistwho researches environmental, dietary, and genetic factors that influence cancer risk, with an emphasis onhealth disparitiesin minority populations. She is the Ira Goodman chair in cancer research and a professor of population and public health sciences and urology at theUniversity of Southern California(USC). Stern is also the associate director for population sciences at theUSC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Mariana C. Stern
Born	(1967-04-15)April 15, 1967 Buenos Aires,Argentina
Alma mater	University of Buenos Aires University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Scientific career
Fields	Cancer epidemiology, health equity
Institutions	University of Southern California
Doctoral advisor	Claudio J. Conti

Education

Stern was born on April 15, 1967 inBuenos Aires,Argentina.She completed her B.S. (1992) and M.S. in biology at theUniversity of Buenos Aires,School of Science.She obtained a Ph.D. in cancer biology from theThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciencesin 1997.Her dissertation was titled,Genetic Analysis of Tumor Progression Susceptibility in the Mouse Skin Model.Stern's research identified a dominant gene onchromosome 14that influencestumor progressionin mouse skincarcinogenesis,with findings showing increased proliferation,genomic instability,andoverexpressionof key proteins in susceptible strains.Claudio J. Contiwas her supervisory professor during her doctoral research.Stern undertook postdoctoral training in epidemiology at theNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciencesfrom 1997 to 2001.

Career

In 2001 Stern began her academic career as a faculty member in the department of preventive medicine at theKeck School of Medicine of USCat theUniversity of Southern California(USC).Her early work focused oncancer epidemiology,and she developed an interest in understanding cancer disparities among minority populations.Trained in cancer biology and population sciences, she explores the environmental and genetic risk factors for cancer, with a particular emphasis on dietary exposures and their potential role in cancer risk.

In 2016, Stern expanded her role at USC by joining the department of urology, bridging preventive medicine and clinical research.Her research includes clinical epidemiological studies that address disparities in cancer outcomes for minority groups, especially among Latino and Black populations.She collaborates extensively with the Los Angeles Cancer Surveillance Program to examine cancer patterns in these communities.

Stern is the associate director for population sciences at theUSC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center(NCCC) and serves as the Ira Goodman Chair in Cancer Research.Stern plays a role in national initiatives aimed at improving cancer research and health equity.She is the co-director and co-principal investigator for the Florida-California Cancer Research, Education, and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center.This program, funded by theNational Cancer Institute(NCI), fosters partnerships between USC, theUniversity of Florida,andFlorida A&M Universityto address cancer disparities.

Stern is a member of theAmerican Association for Cancer Research(AACR), where she serves on the minorities in cancer research council.Her publications cover a wide range of topics in cancer epidemiology, including the role of diet in cancer risk, genetic risk factors, and prostate and colorectal cancer disparities.Stern mentors the next generation of minority researchers, particularly through her involvement in education and training programs like CaRE2's summer cancer research education and training program.