COE Accomplishments

Ding, Z., Deng, J., Mermelstein, L., Nemesure, B., Osborne, T., & Wang, F. (2025). Demographic disparities, temporal trends, and geographic patterns of HPV vaccination on Long Island, New York: A comprehensive analysis of immunization registry data (2012–2023). Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 21(1), 2487383. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2025.2487383

Ji, H., Elangbam, M., Qiu, Y., Bamrah, J., Zhang, W., Pawar, A., Thakur, C., Chen, F., & Wang, Z. (2025). Arsenic disrupts H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 balance by biasing PRC2.1 and PRC2.2 activity via PALI1 inhibition in carcinogenesis. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 21(9), 4069–4080. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.115605

Nemesure, B., Wood, S. K., & Mermelstein, L. (2025). Utilization of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine practices among US adults with and without a diagnosis of cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 33(7), 582. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09627-y

Seno, A., Bi, Z., Polin, L., Liu, Z., Qiu, Y., Zhang, W., Pawar, A., Thakur, C., Seno, M., Wang, Z., & Chen, F. (2025). Genome-wide mapping of arsenic-activated Nrf2 reveals metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming in induced pluripotent stem cells. Redox Biology, 86, 103773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2025.103773

Thakur, C., Saran, U., & Chen, F. (2025). Editorial: The impact of specific environmental exposures on breast, lung, and colon cancer: Advancing public health strategies for enhanced outcomes. Front Public Health, 13, 1483915. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1483915

Mermelstein, L., Payne, J. B., Martillotti, R., Mock, K. O., Moyer, A. E., Bily, L., Caravella, G., Grimaldi, J. M., Jadotte, Y. T., Phillips, J. P., Scarbrough, K. H., Francois, J., & Nemesure, B. D. (2025). Black Men’s Prostate Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Access to Health Information. Am J Mens Health, 19(6), 15579883251377306. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883251377306

Veintimilla, A., Chen J., Nemesure, B., Mermelstein, L., Trask, A. (2025). Assessing the Attitudes, Knowledge, and Beliefs of the Hispanic Community Regarding Skin Cancer, International Journal of Research in Dermatology, 11(6), 579–611. https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20253297

Wang, Z., Bi, Z., Bamrah, J., Qiu, Y., Zhang, W., Almutairy, B. S., Ji, H., Haley, J. D., Thakur, C., & Chen, F. (2025). Nrf2 Drives Epigenetic Reprogramming and Acts as the Master Regulator of KLF4 Expression and Activity in Arsenic‐Induced Transformation. Advanced Science, 12(40), e00221. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202500221

Wang, Z., Thakur, C., Bi, Z., Qiu, Y., Zhang, W., Ji, H., Venkatesan, A. K., Cherukuri, S., Liu, K. J., Haley, J. D., Mao, X., Meliker, J., & Chen, F. (2025). 1,4‐Dioxane Induces Epithelial‐Mesenchymal Transition and Carcinogenesis in an Nrf2‐Dependent Manner. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 14(5), e70072. https://doi.org/10.1002/jev2.70072

Zhang, W., Wang, Z., Fu, Y., Thakur, C., Ji, H., Bi, Z., Qiu, Y., Elangbam, M., Haley, J., & Chen, F. (2025). Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) Suppresses Arsenic (As3+)-Induced Malignant Transformation by Antagonizing TOX Expression. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 21(6), 2747–2761. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.107268

Grimaldi, J. (September 2025). Fostering Relationships from Focus Groups to Community Health Workers [Breakout Session]. Cancer Center Community Impact Forum, Raleigh NC, United States.

Thakur,C., Qiu, Y., Bamrah, J., Svenson, D., Pawar, A., Wang, Z., Chen, F. (Sept 2025) Histone code rewriting in mdig-deficient triple negative breast cancer cells drives metastasis-promoting transcription [Poster and Presentation ] Breast Cancer Symposium, The Waterview, Port Jefferson, NY

Ding, Z., Deng, J., Mermelstein, L., Nemesure, B., Osborne, T., Wang, F. (January 2025) Trends and Patterns of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates on Long Island [Poster Presentation] Catchment Area Data Ex Conference (CAD-EX) 2025, San Diego, CA

Trask, A., Caravella, G., Ryan, M., Keburia, K., Hughes, M., Oakley, M. (April 2025), Creation, Dissemination, and Evaluation of an HPV Toolkit: For Colleges, By Colleges [Poster Presentation] National HPV Conference 2025, Indianapolis, IN

Veintimilla, A., Chen, J., Nemesure, B., Mermelstein, L., Trask, A. (August 2025) Assessing the Attitudes, Knowledge, and Beliefs of the Hispanic Community Regarding Skin Cancer. [Poster Presentation at the Ethics Symposium, and winner of the Most Popular Vote Award] 8th Annual Medical Ethics Symposium Lost in Translation: Cultivating Ethical Conversations with Cultural Humility, Compassion and Respect and webinar at Stony Brook, NY.

Veintimilla, A., Chen, J., Nemesure, B., Mermelstein, L., Trask, A. (August 2025) Assessing the Attitudes, Knowledge, and Beliefs of the Hispanic Community Regarding Skin Cancer [Poster Presentation] Inaugural DermLink Scholars Virtual Conference, virtual.

Caravella, G., Grimaldi, J., Bily, L., Dineen, P., Martillotti, R., Mock, K., Moyer, A., Mermelstein, L., Payne, J., Scarbrough, K., Nemesure, B. (December 2024) Recruitment of Males from Underserved Communities in Prostate Cancer Research: Reflections and Recommendations.  
International Journal of Men's Social and Community Health, Volume 7, Number 2
https://doi.org/10.3138/ijmsch.2024.0119

Malik, S.; Mock, K.O.; Martillotti, R.; Caravella, G.; Zhou, X.; Mbamelu, M.; Scarbrough, K.H. (December 2024) HPV Vaccines Among University Students: Understanding Barriers and Facilitators of Vaccine Uptake. Vaccines 2024, 12,1385. 
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12121385

Mastrogiacomo, C., Courtepatte, A., Moyer, A., Preece, C., Thompson, P., Stopeck, A., (October 2024) Willingness of Women at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer to Participate in Prevention Trials. JCO Oncology Practice. https://doi.org/10.1200/OP-24-00487

Atchade, A., Williams, J., Mermelstein, L., Nemesure, B. (April 2024) Unraveling the Complexities of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer: A Perspective on Dietary and Microbial Influences. Frontiers Public Health, Volume 12-2024, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1370108

Martillotti, R., Mock, K., Patel, D., Moyer, A., Mermelstein, L., Scarbrough, K., Caravella, G., Bily L., MA, Grimaldi, J., Dineen, P., Phillips, J., Houghton, K., Nemesure, B. (March 2024) Racial disparities in colorectal cancer: A qualitative study of barriers to care, knowledge, and screenings [Poster Presentation]. 45th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Dineen, P., Orduna, L., Hansen, S., Tejeda, A., Alejo, R. (2023). The Socioeconomic Impact of Mobile Mammography. Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship; 14(2): 39-45. https://www.jons-online.com/issues/2023/february-2023-vol-14-no-2?view=article&artid=4821:socioeconomic-impact-mobile-mammography

Nemesure, B., Scarbrough, K., Mermelstein, L. (2023). Racial Disparities in Prostate Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Persist Despite Community Affluence. Research and Reports in Urology; 14:305-312. https://doi.org/10.2147/RRU.S371838.

Nemesure, B., Scarbrough, K., Mermelstein, L. (2023). Does Community Affluence Improve Survival of Colorectal Cancer? AJPM Focus2023;2(4):100144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focus.2023.100144

Scarbrough, K., Craigg, D. (2023, March 6). Vaccination: A Snapshot of Rates, Perceptions, and Health Literacy on a Public Northeastern University Campus [Poster Presentation]. Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine 17th Annual Women in Medicine Research Day, Stony Brook, NY, United States.

Scarbrough, K., Craigg, D. (2023, March 22). Vaccination: A Snapshot of Rates, Perceptions, and Health Literacy on a Public Northeastern University Campus [Poster Presentation and Talk]. American College of Preventive Medicine Annual Meeting 2023, New Orleans, LA, United States.

Payne, J., Martillotti, R., Mock, O., Francois, J., Moyer, A., Bily, L., Caravella, G., Grimaldi, J., Jadotte, Y., Mermelstein, L., Phillips, J., Scarbrough, K., Nemesure, B. (2023, April 26). A Qualitative Study of Black Men’s Prostate Cancer Attitudes, Beliefs, Barriers to Care, and Access to Health Information [Poster Presentation]. Society of Behavioral Medicine 44th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, United States.

Caravella, G., Grimaldi, J.(October 2023). Establishing Focus Groups in Underserved Communities: It’s All About Trust [Poster Presentation and Breakout Session]. Cancer Center Community Impact Forum, Miami, FL, United States. 

Malik, S., Zhou, X., Martillotti, R., Mock, K., Caravella, G., Mbamelu, M., Caxaj, L., Scarbrough, K. (November 2023). HPV vaccines among college students: Understanding barriers and facilitators of vaccine uptake to increase health equity [Oral Presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo, Atlanta, GA, United States.

Nemesure, B., Scarbrough, K., Mermelstein, L. (2022, May 23). Racial Disparities in Prostate Cancer Persist Despite Community Affluence & Access to Quality Healthcare [Poster Presentation]. NYC Epidemiology Forum Conference. 

Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, Community Cancer Prevention Projects (2021 & 2022)
Supported by the NYS Department of Health and Health Research, Inc., the purpose of this funding is to support local interventions to address the burden of cancer in communities and across the state. Stony Brook Cancer Center’s Office for Community Outreach and Engagement hosted a virtual educational event, presented by Clare Moran, DNP, for local primary care providers about understanding and caring for survivors in the primary care setting. In 2022, COE partnered with the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai to cohost a virtual workshop for breast cancer survivors that provided exercise, nutrition, and other healthy strategies for caring for themselves.

Cancer Prevention in Action (2021-2024)
Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) is a NYS Department of Health program supporting local cancer prevention and risk reduction interventions. Stony Brook Cancer Center has been awarded this grant to support skin and HPV-related cancer prevention in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Goals include promotion of sun safety, reduction of UV exposure, and increased awareness of HPV vaccination. CPiA will educate communities on cancer prevention interventions as well as support cancer prevention policy adoption through partnerships with local businesses, schools, elected officials, health care providers, and community organizations. This project is supported with funds from Health Research, Inc. and New York State. 

Mobile Health Innovation Collaborative (2022)
Stony Brook Medicine’s Mobile Mammography Unit received a $25,000 award that includes a nine-month collaboration with the team at Harvard Medical School on a project to increase the effectiveness of our mobile program by conducting a thorough evaluation of the program’s impact in the most underserved zip codes on Long Island.

Pink Aid (2022)
Pink Aid Long Island is funding a pilot program that will provide round-trip transportation, utilizing an UBER health app, to Stony Brook Mobile Mammography sites on Long Island's east end for uninsured/underinsured Suffolk County patients being screened for breast cancer. Pink Aid provides compassionate support, critical resources, and emergency financial assistance to underserved breast cancer patients and their families.

Presidential Mini-Grants for Departmental Diversity Initiative
Awarded internally, the Presidential Mini-Grants for Departmental Diversity Initiative is designed to foster new projects, to test out ideas, and to determine what may be the seeds of growth for the University. In 2022, members of COE’s Nicotine Cessation Workgroup were awarded a mini-grant to support their project, ‘Partnering with Suffolk County Shelters to Reduce Tobacco Use and Exposure: A Pilot Initiative.’ 

Miriam and David Donoho Academy of Clinical and Educational Scholars (2021-2023) 
Dr. Barbara Nemesure, Director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program
Founded in 2014 by a generous donation from Drs. Miriam and David Donoho to enhance the educational mission of Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. Membership in the Academy of Clinical and Medical Educators signifies outstanding contributions to the educational mission of the School of Medicine.