Faculty

Sara Lindstroem

Associate Professor, Epidemiology
Director of Research, Epidemiology

206-221-3148

Education

MSc Engineering Physics, Umea University, 2004
PhD Genetic Epidemiology, Umea University, 2007

Contact

206-221-3148

University of Washington
Box 351619
Department of Epidemiology
Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, 874A
Seattle, WA 98195
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Bio

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Dr. Lindstroem (Lindstrom/Lindström) is a genetic epidemiologist who seeks to understand the genetic contribution to complex disease with an emphasis on cancer. She works at the intersection of statistical genetics and genetic epidemiology, where she always seeks to apply novel statistical methods on large-scale -omics data. By leveraging large-scale population-based studies, she studies how our genes and environment affect our risk of developing disease. She leads multiple international efforts to study genetic risk factors for cancer and mammographic density (R01CA194393, R01CA244670), and she is studying the genetics underlying a range of outcomes in people living with HIV (R01DA047045). Dr. Lindstroem also teaches PHG511 “Genetic Epidemiology”, EPI583 “Epidemiology Seminars”, and co-teaches the “Genetic Epidemiology” module as part of the UW Summer Institute of Statistical Genetics (SISG).

Research Interests

My research focuses on understanding the genetic contribution to common complex diseases, with a primary emphasis on cancer and linked traits. By leveraging long-running large population-based studies, I investigate how our genetics and environment affect our risk of developing disease.

Current research projects include studying the shared genetic origin between common cancers and the genetics underlying childhood obesity, breast tissue composition and venous thromboembolism. I am also interested in finding approaches to incorporate information about the functional characteristics of the genome in my studies. Finally, I am involved in several large-scale international collaborations that study the genetics underlying breast and prostate cancer.

Recent Publications (PubMed)

Profiling Attitudes Toward Individuals Who Self-Harm Among Mental Health Workers in Sweden: A Cross-Sectional Study.
(2025 Jun 24)
Issues Ment Health Nurs
Lantto R, Jungert T, Lindström S, Nilsson M, Westling S

Substance use issues preceding suicide: A Swedish nationwide record review.
(2025 May 29)
Drug Alcohol Depend 274(): 112736
Doering S, Jonson M, Ernback Schön K, Lindström S, Ehnvall A, Wiktorsson S, Stefenson A, Westrin Å, Waern M

"Younger" and "Older" Old Adults Who Die by Suicide: A Comparison Study and Cluster Analysis.
(2025 May 20)
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
Doering S, Liljedahl SI, Lindström S, Sinyor M, Hedna K, Bergqvist E, Palmqvist Öberg N, Wiktorsson S, Stefenson A, Hartelius J, Westrin Å, Waern M

Analysis of more than 400,000 women provides case-control evidence for BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant classification.
(2025 May 25)
Nat Commun 16(1): 4852
Zanti M, O'Mahony DG, Parsons MT, Dorling L, Dennis J, Boddicker NJ, Chen W, Hu C, Naven M, Yiangou K, Ahearn TU, Ambrosone CB, Andrulis IL, Antoniou AC, Auer PL, Baynes C, Bodelon C, Bogdanova NV, Bojesen SE, Bolla MK, Brantley KD, Camp NJ, Campbell A, Castelao JE, Cessna MH, Chang-Claude J, Chen F, Chenevix-Trench G, NBCS Collaborators, Conroy DM, Czene K, De Nicolo A, Domchek SM, Dörk T, Dunning AM, Eliassen AH, Evans DG, Fasching PA, Figueroa JD, Flyger H, Gago-Dominguez M, García-Closas M, Glendon G, González-Neira A, Grassmann F, Hadjisavvas A, Haiman CA, Hamann U, Hart SN, Hartman MBA, Ho WK, Hodge JM, Hoppe R, Howell SJ, kConFab Investigators, Jakubowska A, Khusnutdinova EK, Ko YD, Kraft P, Kristensen VN, Lacey JV, Li J, Lim GH, Lindström S, Lophatananon A, Luccarini C, Mannermaa A, Martinez ME, Mavroudis D, Milne RL, Muir K, Nathanson KL, Nuñez-Torres R, Obi N, Olson JE, Palmer JR, Panayiotidis MI, Patel AV, Pharoah PDP, Polley EC, Rashid MU, Ruddy KJ, Saloustros E, Sawyer EJ, Schmidt MK, Southey MC, Tan VK, Teo SH, Teras LR, Torres D, Trentham-Dietz A, Truong T, Vachon CM, Wang Q, Weitzel JN, Yadav S, Yao S, Zirpoli GR, Cline MS, Devilee P, Tavtigian SV, Goldgar DE, Couch FJ, Easton DF, Spurdle AB, Michailidou K

Documentation of suicidality in connection with specialised healthcare for physical conditions: a retrospective review of somatic medical records prior to suicide in Sweden.
(2025 May 15)
BMJ Open 15(5): e086633
Sellin T, Waern M, Bergqvist E, Palmqvist Öberg N, Lindström S, Fröding E, Ehnvall A, Westrin Å

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