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 Areas

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)

Genomic characterization of colorectal tumors: insights into significantly mutated genes, pathways, and survival outcomes.
(2025 Dec 18)
BMC Cancer
Harrison TA, Zaidi SH, Yin H, Steinfelder RS, Qu C, Aglago EK, Berndt SI, Boardman LA, Brenner H, Buchanan DD, Campbell PT, Cao Y, Chan AT, Chanock SJ, Doheny KF, Drew DA, Figueiredo JC, French AJ, Gallinger S, Georgeson P, Giannakis M, Goode EL, Gruber SB, Gsur A, Gunter MJ, Harlid S, Hoffmeister M, Huang WY, Hullar MA, Huyghe JR, Jenkins MA, Lin Y, Moreno V, Murphy N, Newcomb PA, Newton CC, Nowak JA, Obón-Santacana M, Ogino S, Shelford T, Song M, Thomas CE, Toland AE, Ugai T, Um CY, Van Guelpen B, Trinh QM, Sun W, Hudson TJ, Hsu L, Peters U, Phipps AI
Diabetogenic processes for insulin resistance-linked hyperinsulinaemia are associated with colorectal cancer.
(2025 Dec 15)
Diabetologia
Zhou X, Sevilla-Gonzalez M, Phipps AI, Udler M, Castellví-Bel S, Chan AT, Pellatt AJ, Schoen RE, Giovannucci E, Gunter MJ, Florez JC, Peters U, Song M, Merino J
Large-scale integration of omics and electronic health records to identify potential risk protein biomarkers and therapeutic drugs for cancer prevention.
(2025 Dec 2)
Am J Hum Genet
Li Q, Song Q, Chen Z, Choi J, Moreno V, Ping J, Wen W, Li C, Shu X, Yan J, Shu XO, Cai Q, Long J, Huyghe JR, Pai R, Gruber SB, Yang Y, Casey G, Wang X, Toriola AT, Li L, Singh B, Lau KS, Zhou L, Zhang Z, Wu C, Peters U, Zheng W, Long Q, Yin Z, Guo X
Investigating the association between anthropometry and colorectal cancer survival: a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.
(2025 Oct 14)
Int J Epidemiol 54(6):
Kanellopoulou A, Bouras E, Chan AT, Marchand LL, Wolk A, Wu AH, Gunter MJ, Nimptsch K, Haycock P, Lewis SJ, Martin RM, Zuber V, Phipps AI, Peters U, Van Duijnhoven FJB, Tsilidis KK
T-cell Subset Features and Distributions Evolve Across the Colorectal Precancer-Cancer Spectrum.
(2025 Nov 12)
Cancer Immunol Res
Takashima Y, Dias Costa A, Akimoto N, Ugai T, Bell P, Väyrynen JP, Hornick JL, Mino-Kenudson M, Zhong Y, Ugai S, Haruki K, Yao Q, Matsuda K, Higashioka M, Buchanan DD, Phipps AI, Peters U, Giannakis M, Song M, Chan AT, Fuchs CS, Nowak JA, Ogino S
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