Thomas A. Sellers, PhD, MPH

Thomas A. Sellers, PhD, MPH, is the Director at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and a prominent figure in the field of genetic epidemiology. His primary research interests focus on cancers of the ovaries, breast, and lung, as well as mammographic density, which serves as a biomarker for breast cancer risk. Dr. Sellers has significantly contributed to the understanding of cancer risk factors, notably demonstrating that body fat distribution is a critical risk factor beyond general obesity.1

Academic Background

• Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Tulane University (1988)
• M.P.H. from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (1984)
• B.S. from the University of California, Davis (1982)
• Completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Statistical Genetics at Louisiana State University.1

Professional Experience

Before joining OHSU, Dr. Sellers held several prestigious positions:

• Professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
• Associate Director and Deputy Director at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Executive Vice President at Moffitt Cancer Center
• Director of the Moffitt Research Institute and NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.1

Research Contributions

Dr. Sellers has been instrumental in securing over $100 million in peer-reviewed grants and has authored more than 400 publications that have collectively received over 46,000 citations. His work often involves collaborations across extended families and studies on genetic variations among unrelated individuals.1

Professional Service and Memberships

He has served on various boards, including:

• American Association for Cancer Research Board of Directors
• Association of American Cancer Institutes Board of Directors
• NCI Board of Scientific Counselors.1

Honors and Awards

Dr. Sellers was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2019 and received the Human Cancer Genetics Program Commemorative Medal from The Ohio State University in 2013.1

For more details about his professional background, you can view his LinkedIn profile under the username thomassellers-phd .2