Faculty

Ulrike Peters

Research Professor, Epidemiology

206-667-2450

Education

PhD Nutrition, University of Kiel (Germany), 1998
MPH Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, 1999

Contact

206-667-2450

Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Box 358080
1100 Fairview Ave N,M4-B402
PO Box 1024
Seattle, WA 98109

Research Interests

My research interest centers on the genetic and molecular epidemiology of common complex diseases, including cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as intermediate traits, including inflammation and metabolic measurements. Within well characterized and diverse study populations, we are studying the impact of common and rare genetic variants across the entire genome, as well as interactions between genetic variants and environmental factors (such as diet, exercise, smoking and aspirin use). We are increasingly bringing in functional genomic data to inform gene-environment interactions as well as rare variant testing. In addition, we are conducting a large-scale study to integrate the tumor and host genome to investigate associations of germline genetic, environmental risk factors and survival in relation to colorectal cancer subtypes defined by existing tumor characteristics as well as novel somatic mutations in colorectal cancer. A further interest of us is the translation of our findings into public health practice and clinical care. Accordingly, we have developed comprehensive risk prediction models that can personalize screening decisions.

Recent Publications (PubMed)

Single-cell transcriptome-wide association analysis reveals epithelial cell-specific genetic susceptibility to colorectal cancer.
(2026 Nov 1)
medRxiv
Li Q, Li C, Lyu L, Wang J, Yuan F, Jeong E, Song Q, Yan C, Chen Y, Choi J, Xu S, Wang Y, Sheng Q, Wen W, Shrubsole MJ, Cai Q, Shu XO, Gao G, Singh B, Yin Z, Coburn LA, Ciombor KK, Eng C, Bauer JA, Peters U, Wilson KT, Zheng W, Lau KS, Guo X

Proteomic markers of colorectal cancer risk: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.
(2026 Oct 7)
medRxiv
Lee MA, Viallon V, Muller DC, Wang Z, Murphy N, Yarmolinsky J, Cross AJ, Ferrari P, Jakszyn P, Jenab M, Kolijn PM, Masala G, Palli D, Panico S, Peters U, Sacerdote C, Smith-Byrne K, Travis RC, Tsilidis KK, Tumino R, Van Guelpen B, Vermeulen R, Verschuren M, Wareham N, Chatterjee N, Platz EA, Riboli E, Gunter MJ

Transcriptomic signatures of lipids in blood provide hypotheses of functional mechanisms linked to lipid metabolism and immune-cell regulation.
(2026 Oct 28)
Hum Mol Genet 35(22):
Lundin JI, Graff M, Haessler J, Zhang X, Cai Y, Fuller H, Heard-Costa N, Huan T, Joehanes R, Landman JM, Peloso GM, Wang Y, Wang Z, Below JE, Levy D, North KE, Reiner AP, Zukowski R, Peters U, Kooperberg C

Relationship between bisphosphonate use and risks of recurrence and mortality among hormone receptor-positive and triple-negative breast cancer patients.
(2026 Aug 15)
Cancer 132(16): e70562
Huang L, Cook LS, Tang MC, Doody DR, Peters U, Sun W, Huyghe JR, Malone KE, Li CI

Cross-cohort analysis of expression and splicing quantitative trait loci in TOPMed.
(2026 Jul 16)
Science 393(6808): eadx2989
Orchard P, Blackwell TW, Kachuri L, Castaldi PJ, Cho MH, Christenson SA, Durda P, Gabriel S, Hersh CP, Huntsman S, Hwang S, Joehanes R, Johnson M, Li X, Lin H, Liu CT, Liu Y, Mak ACY, Manichaikul AW, Paik DT, Saferali A, Smith JD, Taylor KD, Tracy RP, Wang J, Wang M, Weinstock JS, Weiss J, Wheeler HE, Zhou Y, Zöllner S, Wu JC, Mestroni L, Graw S, Taylor MRG, Ortega VE, Johnson WC, Gan W, Abecasis G, Nickerson DA, Gupta N, Ardlie K, Woodruff PG, Bowler RP, Meyers DA, Reiner A, Kooperberg C, Ziv E, Vasan RS, Larson MG, Cupples LA, Silverman EK, Rich SS, Heard-Costa N, Tang H, Rotter JI, Smith AV, Levy D, NHLBI TOPMed Consortium Multi-Omics Working Group32, NHLBI TOPMed Consortium32§, Aguet F, Scott LJ, Raffield LM, Parker SCJ, Abe N, Almasy L, Ament S, Anugu P, Auer P, Avramopoulos D, Balasubramanian A, Barr RG, Barwick L, Beaty T, Becker D, Becker L, Beitelshees A, Benos T, Bezerra M, Bis J, Brody J, Broeckel U, Broome J, Bunting K, Buth E, Carey V, Carty C, Casaburi R, Chaffin M, Chang C, Chang YC, Chavan S, Chen BJ, Chen WM, Choi SH, Chuang LM, Chung RH, Conomos M, Cornell E, Crandall C, Crapo J, Curtis J, Damcott C, David S, de Las Fuentes L, de Vries P, Deka R, DeMeo D, Devine S, Dinh H, Doddapaneni H, Duan Q, Duggirala R, Eaton C, Ekunwe L, El Boueiz A, Emery L, Farber C, Farek J, Franceschini N, Frazar C, Fu M, Fullerton SM, Fulton L, Gao S, Gao Y, Gass M, Geiger H, Ghosh A, Gignoux C, Glahn D, Gogarten S, Gong DW, Goring H, Grine D, Gu CC, Guan Y, Hall M, Han Y, Harris D, Heavner B, Herrington D, Hobbs B, Hong E, Hoth K, Hsiung CA, Hu J, Hung YJ, Huston H, Hwu CM, Jackson R, Jain D, Johnsen J, Johnston R, Jones K, Kessler M, Khan A, Khan Z, Kim W, Kimoff J, Kinney G, Kramer H, Lange C, Lange E, Laurie C, Laurie C, LeBoff M, Lee S, Lee WJ, Levine D, Lewis J, Li Y, Lin X, Liu S, Liu Y, Make B, Manning A, Manson J, Martin L, Marton M, Mathai S, May S, McArdle P, McDonald ML, McFarland S, McGoldrick D, McHugh C, Mei H, Meigs J, Menon V, Min N, Moll M, Momin Z, Montasser M, Mychaleckyj JC, Naik R, Naseri T, Natarajan P, Nelson SC, Neltner B, Nessner C, Nkechinyere O, O'Connell J, O'Connor T, Ochs-Balcom H, Okwuonu G, Pankow J, Parker C, Peloso G, Peralta JM, Perez M, Perry J, Peters U, Phillips LS, Pollin T, Becker JP, Boorgula MP, Psaty B, Qiao D, Rafaels N, Rajendran M, Rasmussen-Torvik L, Ratan A, Reed R, Regan E, Reupena MS, Robillard R, Roselli C, Ruczinski I, Runnels A, Russell P, Ryan K, Sabino EC, Salimi S, Salvi S, Salzberg S, Sandow K, Santibanez J, Schwander K, Sciurba F, Sériès F, Shetty A, Shetty A, Silver B, Skomro R, Smith T, Smoller S, Snively B, Stilp AM, Storm G, Streeten E, Su JL, Sung YJ, Sylvia J, Szpiro A, Taub M, Taylor S, Thornton TA, Threlkeld M, Tinker L, Tirschwell D, Tiwari H, Tong C, Tsai M, Vaidya D, Walker T, Wallace R, Walts A, Wang FF, Wang H, Watson K, Watt J, Weng LC, Wessel J, Williams K, Wilson C, Wilson J, Winterkorn L, Wong Q, Wu B, Xu H, Yanek L, Yang I, Zekavat SM, Zhao SX, Zhao W, Zhu X

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