Faculty

Sara Lindstroem

Associate Professor, 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 Areas

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)

Underinvested, Under-Referred, and Underserved: Applying a Gender Equity Continuum Framework in Cancer Control Continuum Programs and Policies to Expand to Transgender and Nonbinary Populations.
(2025)
JCO Oncol Adv 2(1): e2400023
Restar AJ, Lucas R, Nfn S, Alpert AB, Phipps A, Wang G, Operario D, Radix A, van der Merwe LA, Lindström S, Everhart A, Gamarel KE, Streed CG Jr
Substance Use Problems and Death of Despair in a 32-Year Follow-Up Study of Suicide Attempters Examined at a Medical Emergency Inpatient Unit.
(2025 Apr 6)
Int J Environ Res Public Health 22(4):
Niwhede E, Berge J, Öjehagen A, Lindström S
Interactions Between Genetic and Epidemiological Factors Influencing Mammographic Density.
(2025 Mar 27)
Am J Epidemiol
Suger AH, Chen H, Haas CB, Fan S, Scott CG, Bolla MK, Dennis J, Dunning AM, Michailidou K, Wang Q, Fasching PA, Haeberle L, Stone J, Gago-Dominguez M, Castelao JE, Murphy RA, Aronson K, Couch FJ, Yadav S, Milne RL, Hopper JL, Norman A, Eliassen AH, Tapper WJ, Eccles DM, Evans DG, Astley S, Hall P, Czene K, Pharoah PDP, Antoniou AC, García-Closas M, Berrington A, Easton DF, Gierach GL, Tamimi RM, Vachon CM, Lindström S, Harrison TA
Suicidal Communication Prior to Suicide in Children and Young Adults-A Medical Records Review in Health Care Services in Sweden.
(2024 Dec 29)
Int J Environ Res Public Health 22(1):
Hansson AL, Johnsson P, Eberhard S, Ehnvall A, Lindström S, Waern M, Westrin Å
Response to Zhang and Lv.
(2025 Apr 1)
J Natl Cancer Inst 117(4): 803-804
Zhang Y, Lindström S, Kraft P, Liu Y
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