Education
PhD Epidemiology, University of Wisconsin (Madison), 2018
BS Cognitive Science, University of California (San Diego), 2009
Contact
206-667-1036
bdarst@fredhutch.org
1100 Fairview Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
Bio
Dr. Burcu Darst’s is a genetic epidemiologist with research focused on identifying and understanding genetic and multi-omic risk factors of complex diseases in diverse populations, particularly how they relate to health disparities. Her research lies predominantly in studying prostate cancer, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, with the underlying goal of identifying risk factors that could prevent the onset and health disparities of these diseases. Dr. Darst’s research is based on a variety of approaches, including using rare genetic variants captured with genomic sequencing, genome-wide association studies, polygenic risk scores, and metabolomics to understand disease risk. Currently, she is leading an effort to improve understanding of the genomic and metabolic mechanisms contributing to prostate cancer risk in men from diverse populations as well as improving the utility of polygenic risk scores and rare genetic variants for the prediction of prostate cancer across multi-ancestry patient populations.This research is conducted in collaboration with large-scale international collaborations investigating genetic risk of prostate cancer.
Research Interests
Prostate cancer prevention, Health disparities, Genetic risk factors, Molecular biomarkers, Multi-omic integration
Recent Publications (PubMed)
(2025 Nov 24)
Nat Genet
Smith JL, Adebamowo CA, Adebamowo SN, Darst BF, Fullerton SM, Gogarten SM, Hamed ME, Hirbo JB, Hysong MR, Johar AS, Khan AT, Kullo IJ, Konigsberg IR, Kraft P, Lange LA, Li Y, Martin AR, Nelson SC, Choudhury A, Ramsay M, Cobran EK, Schaid DJ, Sharma J, Wang Y, Wojcik GL, Polygenic Risk Methods Development (PRIMED) Consortium, Sun Q
(2025 Oct 3)
medRxiv
Cheng S, Suger AH, Goss LB, Zhang J, Fuller H, Guo B, Lindström S, Darst BF
(2025 Nov 5)
Eur Urol
Chen F, Sheng X, Wang A, Xu Y, Hughley R, Xiong W, Pooler L, Wan P, Gundell SM, Kigozi G, Nakigozi G, Nalugoda F, Kagaayi J, Kigozi GN, Mugamba S, Kyasanku E, Nkale J, Olwa VO, Lubwama A, Daama A, Nakajugo R, Adusei B, Jalloh M, Gueye SM, Adjei AA, Mensah J, Fernandez PW, Adebiyi AO, Olufemi Ogunbiyi J, Aisuodionoe-Shadrach OI, Petersen L, Chen WC, McBride J, Bensen JT, Mohler JL, Taylor JA, Andrews C, Kigongo M, Colline A, Kiddu V, Namugambe J, Owamaani S, Job K, Masaba BJ, Asiimwe F, Muwanga P, Namulondo J, Nagawa F, Kayiraba C, Ogwang M, Okidi R, Oweka D, Kitara E, Obonyo J, Lajul D, Matovu P, Muheki PA, Natumanya J, Agaba E, Aculokin E, Twongyeirwe A, Mutema G, Bitamazire D, Butler EN, Ingles SA, Rybicki BA, Stanford JL, Zheng W, Berndt SI, Chanock SJ, Huff CD, Lachance J, Multigner L, Darst BF, Rebbeck TR, Brureau L, Watya S, Conti DV, Haiman CA
(2025 Nov 9)
J Natl Cancer Inst
Zhang T, Hua X, Mohindroo C, Wang X, Dutta D, Liu J, Katta S, Li SA, Wang J, Antwi SO, Arslan AA, Beane Freeman LE, Bracci PM, Canzian F, Du M, Gallinger S, Goodman PJ, Katzke V, Kooperberg C, Le Marchand L, Neale RE, Patel AV, Perdomo S, Shu XO, Visvanathan K, Van Den Eeden SK, White E, Zheng W, Albanes D, Andreotti G, Bamlet WR, Brennan P, Buring JE, Chanock SJ, Chen Y, Darst B, Ferrari P, Giovannucci EL, Goggins M, Haiman C, Hassan M, Holly EA, Hung RJ, Jones MR, Kraft P, Kurtz RC, Malats N, Moore SC, Ng K, Oberg AL, Orlow I, Peters U, Porta M, Rabe KG, Rothman N, Sánchez MJ, Sesso HD, Silverman DT, Southey MC, Um CY, Yarmolinsky J, Yu H, Yuan C, Zhong J, Wolpin BM, Risch HA, Amundadottir LT, Klein AP, Yu K, Zhang H, Stolzenberg-Solomon RZ
(2025 Oct 6)
Genome Med 17(1): 113
Kim D, Highland HM, Smit RAJ, Hysong MR, Buchanan VL, Young KL, Zhao C, Spracklen CN, Kilpeläinen TO, Guo B, Darst BF, Cai Y, Wang Z, Lundin J, Berndt SI, Manson JE, Marouli E, Lange L, Lange E, Fornage M, Gignoux CR, Haiman CA, Rich SS, Buyske S, Loos RJF, Kooperberg C, Peters U, Avery CL, Gordon-Larsen P, Graff M, Raffield LM, North KE
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