Adana Llanos

Adana A.M. Llanos, PhD, MPH (she/her) is a cancer and molecular epidemiologist whose research program seeks to understand the molecular and sociobiologic contributors to cancer outcomes inequities, and ultimately identify ways to address them. Dr. Llanos has expertise in contemporary molecular techniques (including biomarker analysis in histologically normal tissues, tumors, and the tumor microenvironment) and molecular pathological epidemiology, secondary analysis of cancer surveillance data, the conduct of large, diverse observational studies, and community-based participatory research.

A major focus of Dr. Llanos' research is to examine risk factors that contribute to increased breast cancer incidence at younger ages, increased incidence of more aggressive tumors, and increased mortality among Black women. Her ongoing work also includes investigating associations of adiposity and adiposity-related biomarkers, epigenetics, chronic physiologic stress, personal care products, and sociobiologic factors with cancer outcomes, particularly among minority and medically underserved populations. As a member of the African Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3), she also collaborates on research to understand variation in cancer incidence and mortality among populations of African ancestry by subgroup (e.g., birthplace and nativity).

In addition to her scholarship, Dr. Llanos is actively involved in community service through engagement with community-based organizations, particularly those whose mission includes providing timely public health advocacy, education and outreach, and cancer survivorship support among members of the community. She recently served as a member of a National Community Advisory Board led by Black Ladies Advocating for Cancer Care (BLACC) and the Stanford School of Medicine Office of Community Engagement (OCE) and as a Board Member of the Yvonne McCalla Foundation, Inc. (YMF Inc. – a non-profit, community-based breast cancer organization in New Jersey).