Post on 18-Dec-2021
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 1
JEANNETTE T. BENSEN, MS, PhD
BUSINESS ADDRESS: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
CB #7295
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7294
Office: 919-843-1017
Cell: 919-801-9267
Email: jbensen@med.unc.edu
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Postdoctoral Postdoctoral Fellow
June 2002 – June 2003 Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Training: Epidemiology and Genetic Analysis
Graduate Ph.D. Molecular Medicine
August 1998 – May 2002 Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Thesis: The Interleukin-1 Gene Cluster: A Candidate
Region for End-Stage Renal Disease
Graduate Master of Science in Genetic Counseling
1983-1985 University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
April 1984 - January 1985 Master Thesis, "Separation of Isoelectric Variants of Human
Alpha Fetoprotein: A Possible Aid in the Prenatal
Diagnosis of Congenital Malformations."
June 1984 One Month Genetic Counseling Rotation
Supervisor: Mark W. Steele, MD
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate Bachelor of Science
1977-1981 Major: Biology
SUNY College at Fredonia
Fredonia, New York
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
December 2013 – Present Research Associate Professor, Epidemiology
Principal Investigator & Director, PCaP/HCaP-NC
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 2
Director, UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort
Director, UNC-SAS Partnership
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
August 2011 – November 2013 Research Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
Director, UNC-SAS Partnership
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
February 2008 – November 2013 Research Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
Director, UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
December 2008 – December 2012 Principal Investigator
Health Care Access and Prostate Cancer Treatment in
North Carolina: HCaP-NC
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
January 2004 – November 2013 Research Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
Co-Director, Prostate Cancer Consortium (PCaP)
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
August 2003 – December 2003 Research Associate
Co-Director, Prostate Cancer Consortium
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
June 2002 – June 2003 Postdoctoral Fellow
Mentor: Deborah Meyers, Ph.D.
Mentor: Jianfeng Xu, M.D., Dr.PH.
Center for Human Genomics
Wake Forest University/Baptist Medical Center
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
August 1998 - May 2002 Graduate Student
Advisor: Donald Bowden, Ph.D.
Department of Biochemistry
Section Molecular Genetics
Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 3
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
August 1996 -1998 Research Associate/Project Manager
HyperGEN - Family Blood Pressure Study
Supervisor: Gerardo Heiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
August 1992 -1998 Research Associate/Co-Investigator
Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities and Family
Heart Studies
Supervisor: Gerardo Heiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
August 1990 -1998 Project Manager
Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
Supervisor: Gerardo Heiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
December 1988 - May 1990 Principal Investigator
Fetal Alcohol and Drug Prevention Program
Supervisor: Jimmy Simon, M.D.
Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
December 1988 - May 1990 Senior Genetic Counselor
Supervisor: I.T. Thomas, M.D.
Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
May 1989 Invited Reviewer of the American Journal of Medical
Genetics
May 1985 - December 1989 Genetic Counselor
Supervisor: Barbara K. Burton, M.D.
Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Fall 1988 Assistant Editor of the North Carolina Medical Genetics
Association Newsletter
September 1984 - April 1985 Research Assistant
Supervisor: Kenneth Garver, M.D., Ph.D.
Magee-Women’s Hospital
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
September 1983 - April 1984 Research Assistant
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 4
Supervisor: David Finegold, M.D.
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1981 - 1983 Research Assistant
Supervisor: Michael Garrick, Ph.D.
State University of New York at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
HONORS AND CERTIFICATIONS
April 2001 Graduate Student Poster Award
Wake Forest University
1998-1999 Graduate Fellowship
Wake Forest University
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
June 1989 America's Who's Who-
America's Outstanding Women of the Eighties.
Biography
June 1987 Board Certified Genetic Counselor
Member American Board of Medical Genetics
1979 - 1981 Tri Beta National Honor Society,
Officer Upsilon Chi Chapter
Fall 1977 -1980 Dean's List
MEMBERSHIPS
2014 – Present Center for Human Health and and Environment
North Carolina State University
2005 – Present Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2003 – Present Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
1985 – Present American Society of Human Genetics
1985 – 1998 National Society of Genetic Counselors
1985 – 1990 North Carolina Medical Genetics Association
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 5
PUBLICATIONS
1. Family L, Bensen JT, Troester MA, Wu MC, Anders CK, Olshan AF. Single-nucleotide
polymorphisms in DNA bypass polymerase genes and association with breast cancer and
breast cancer subtypes among African Americans and Whites. Breast Cancer Res Treat.
2015 Jan;149(1):181-90. doi: 10.1007/s10549-014-3203-4. Epub 2014 Nov 23. PubMed
PMID: 25417172.
2. Nyante SJ, Gammon MD, Kaufman JS, Bensen JT, Lin DY, Barnholtz-Sloan JS, Hu Y,
He Q, Luo J, Millikan RC. Genetic variation in estrogen and progesterone pathway genes
and breast cancer risk: An exploration of tumor subtype-specific effects. Cancer Causes
and Control. 2015 Jan;26(1):121-31. doi: 10.1007/s10552-014-0491-2. Epub 2014 Nov
25. PubMed PMID: 25421376; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4291841
3. Taylor NJ, Bensen JT, Poole C, Troester MA, Gammon MD, Luo J, Millikan RC,
Olshan AF. Genetic variation in cell cycle regulatory gene AURKA and association with
intrinsic breast cancer subtype. Mol Carcinog. 2014 Oct 18. doi: 10.1002/mc.22238.
[Epub ahead of print]
4. Doll KM, Kalinowski AK, Snavely AC, Irwin DE, Bensen JT, Bae-Jump VL, Kim KH,
Van Le L, Clarke-Pearson DL, Gehrig PA. Obesity is associated with worse quality of
life in women with gynecologic malignancies: An opportunity to improve patient-
centered outcomes. Cancer. 2014 Sep 23. doi: 10.1002/cncr.29061. [Epub ahead of print]
5. Song L, Weaver MA, Chen RC, Bensen JT, Fontham E, Su LJ, Mohler JL, Mishel M,
Godley PA, Sleath B. Associations between patient–provider communication and socio-
cultural factors in prostate cancer patients: A cross-sectional evaluation of racial
differences. Patient Educ Couns (2014), hhtp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2014.08.019.
6. Wyss AB, Weissler MC, Avery CL, Herring AH, Bensen JT, Barnholtz-Sloan JS,
Funkhouser WK, Olshan AF. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in nucleotide excision
repair genes, cancer treatment, and head and neck cancer survival. Cancer Causes and
Control. 2014 Apr;25(4):437-50.
7. Doll, KM, Snavely, AC, Klinowski A, Irwin DE, Bensen JT, Bae-Jump V, Soper JT,
Brewster WR, Gehrig PA. Preoperative quality of life and surgical outcomes in
gynecologic oncology patients: A new predictor of operative risk? Gynecol Oncol. 2014
Jun;133(3):546-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.04.002.
8. Bensen JT*, Xu Z* (joint first authors), McKeigue PM, Smith GJ, Fontham ETH,
Mohler JL, Taylor JA. Admixture Mapping of Prostate Cancer in African Americans
participating in the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project PCaP. The
Prostate. 2014 Jan;74(1):1-9.
9. O’Brien KM, Cole SR, Poole C, Bensen JT, Herring AH, Engel LS and Millikan RC.
Replication of breast cancer susceptibility loci in whites and African-Americans using a
Bayesian approach. International Journal of Epidemiology. 2014;179(3):382-94.
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 6
10. O’Brien KM, Cole SR, Engel LS, Bensen JT, Poole C, Herring AH, Millikan RC. Breast
cancer subtypes and previously established genetic risk factors: A Bayesian approach.
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2014;23(1):84-97.
11. Wyss A, Herring A, Avery C, Millikan R, Weissler M, Bensen JT, Barnholtz-Sloan JS,
Funkhouser WF, Olshan A. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in nucleotide excision
repair genes, cigarette smoking, and the risk of head and neck cancer. Cancer
Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. 2013 Aug;22(8):1428-45.
12. Bensen JT, Tse CK, Nyante SJ, Barnholtz-Sloan JS, Cole SR, Millikan RC. Association
of germline microRNA SNPs in pre-miRNA flanking region and breast cancer risk and
survival: the Carolina Breast Cancer Study. Cancer Causes and Control. 2013
June:24(6):1099-1109. doi: 10.1007/s10552-013-0187-z. PMCID: PMC384004.
13. Ellis S, Blackard B, Carpenter W, Schroeder J, Mishel M, Chen R, Godley P, Mohler J,
Bensen JT. Receipt of National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline-concordant
prostate cancer care among African American and Caucasian American men in North
Carolina. Cancer. April 2013 [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1002/cncr.28004. PMID:
23575751.
14. Song L, Bensen JT, Zimmer C, Sleath B, Blackard B, Fontham E, Su LJ, Brennan CS,
Mohler JL, Mishel M. Patient-health care provider communication among patients with
newly diagnosed prostate cancer: Findings from a population-based study. Patient
Education and Counseling. 2013 Apr;91(1):79-84. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2012.12.002.
PMID: 23332967.
15. Moore AD, Knafl GJ, Hamilton JB, Godley PA, Carpenter WR, Bensen JT, Mohler JL, Mishel
M. (2013). “The influence of mistrust, racism, religious participation, and access to care on
patient satisfaction for African-American men: The North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer
Project (PCaP).” Journal of the National Medical Association. 105(1):59-68.
16. Song L, Chen RC, Bensen JT, Knafl GJ, Nielsen ME, Farnan L, Wallen EM, Mishel M,
Pruthi RS, Mohler JL, Godley PA. Who makes the decision regarding the treatment of
clinically localized prostate cancer-the patient or physician? Results from a population-
based study. Cancer. 2013 Jan 15;119(2):421-8. doi: 10.1002/cncr.27738;
10.1002/cncr.27738. PMID: 22786794.
17. Poch MA, Mehedint D, Curtis A, Green DJ, Payne-Ondracek R, Fontham ETH, Bensen
J, Attwood K, Wilding GE, Guru KA, Underwood W, Mohler JL, Heemers HV. The
association between calcium channel blocker use and prostate cancer outcome. The
Prostate. 2012 Dec 31. [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1002/pros.22632. PMID:
23280547.
18. Tabung F, Steck SE, Su LJ, Mohler JL, Fontham ETH, Bensen JT, Hebert JR, Zhang H,
Arab L. Intake of grains and fiber and prostate cancer aggressiveness by race. Prostate
Cancer. 2012;2012:323296. Epub 2012 Nov 13. doi: 10.1155/2012/323296. PMID:
23213538. PMCID: PMC3503404.
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 7
19. Moore AD, Mishel M, Knafl GJ, Hamilton JB, Godley PA, Carpenter WR, Bensen JT.
Patient satisfaction influenced by interpersonal treatment and communication for
African-American men: The North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP).
American Journal of Men's Health. 2012 Sep;6(5):405-419. doi:
10.1177/1557988312443695. PMID: 22833311
20. Brennan C, Oral E, Fontham E, Mohler JL, Bensen JT, Mishel M, Simonsen N. The
differences in quality of life in Prostate Cancer Project: Methods and design of a
multidisciplinary population-based follow-up study. American Medical Journal.
2012;3(2):104-114. Doi: 10.3844/amjsp.2012.104.114.
21. Arab L, Su LJ, Steck SE, Ang A, Fontham ETH, Bensen JT, Mohler JL. Coffee
consumption and prostate cancer aggressiveness among African and Caucasian
Americans in a population-based study. Nutrition and Cancer. 2012;64(5):637-42. doi:
10.1080/01635581.2012.676144. Epub May 7. PMID: 22564042
22. Arab L, Su J, Steck S, Ang A, Fontham E, Bensen J, Mohler J. Adherence to World
Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Lifestyle
Recommendations Reduces Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness Among African and
Caucasian Americans. Nutrition and Cancer: An International Journal. 65:5,633-643,
doi: 10.1080/01635581.2013.789540.PMID: 23859030
23. Bensen JT*, Xu Z* (*joint first authors), Smith GJ, Mohler JL, Fontham ETH, Taylor
JA. Genetic polymorphism and prostate cancer aggressiveness: A study of 1536 GWAS
and candidate SNPs in African Americans and European Americans. The Prostate.
2012;7(3):e30950. Epub 2012 Mar 27. doi: 10.1002/pros.22532; 10.1002/pros.22532.
PMID: 22479307
24. Sucheston LE, Bensen JT, Xu Z, Singh PK, Mohler JL, Su LJ, Schroeder JC, Fontham
ETH, Ruiz B, Smith GJ, Taylor JA. Genetic ancestry, self-reported race and ethnicity in
Blacks and Whites in the PCaP cohort. PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e30950. Epub 2012 Mar 27.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030950. PMID: 22479307
25. McGraw SA, Wood-Nutter CA, Solomon MZ, Maschke KJ, Benson [sic] JT, Irwin DE.
Clarity and appeal of a multimedia informed consent tool for biobanking. IRB: Ethics &
Human Research. 2012;34(1):9-19. PMID: 22338402.
26. Song L, Mishel M, Bensen JT, Chen RC, Knafl GJ, Blackard B, Farnan L, Fontham E,
Su LJ, Brennan CS, Mohler JL, Godley PA. How does health literacy affect quality of
life among men with newly diagnosed clinically localized prostate cancer? Findings from
the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP). Cancer. 2011 Dec 16. doi:
10.1002/cncr.26713. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 22180041.
27. Nyante SJ, Gammon MD, Kaufman JS, Bensen JT, Lin DY, Barnholtz-Sloan JS, Luo J,
Hu Y, He Q, Millikan RC. Common genetic variation in adiponectin, leptin, and leptin
receptor and association with breast cancer subtypes. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2011
Sep;129(2):593-606. PMID: 21516303.
28. Su LJ, Arab L, Steck SE, Fontham ETH, Schroeder JC, Bensen JT, Mohler JL. Obesity
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 8
and prostate cancer aggressiveness among African and Caucasian Americans in a
population-based study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2011 May;20(5):844-853.
PMID: 21467239.
29. Xu Z*, Bensen JT* (*joint first authors), Smith GJ, Mohler, JL, Taylor JA. GWAS SNP
replication among African American and European American men in the North Carolina-
Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP). Prostate. 2011;71(8):881-891. Epub 2010 Nov
17. PMID: 21456070.
30. Carpenter WR, Godley PA, Clark JA, Talcott JA, Finnegan T, Mishel M, Bensen J,
Rayford W, Su LJ, Fontham ETH, Mohler J. Racial differences in trust and regular
source of patient care, and implications for prostate cancer screening utilization. Cancer.
2009;115(21):5048-5059. PMID: 19637357. PMCID: PMC2779840.
31. Basta PV, Bensen JT, Tse CK, Perou CM, Sullivan PF, Olshan AF. Genetic variation in
Transaldolase 1 and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer
Detect Prev. 2008;32(3):200-208. PMID: 18805652. PMCID: PMC2614275.
32. Golembesky AK, Gammon MD, North KE, Bensen JT, Schroeder JC, Teitelbaum SL,
Neugut AI, Santella RM. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARA)
genetic polymorphisms and breast cancer risk: a Long Island ancillary study.
Carcinogenesis. 2008 Oct;29(10):1944-1949. PMID: 18586686. PMCID: PMC2722854.
33. Millikan RC, Newman B, Tse CK, Moorman P, Smith LV, Labbok M, Geradts J, Bensen
JT, Jackson S, Nyante S, Livasy C, Carey L, Perou CM. Epidemiology of basal-like
breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 May;109(1):123-139. PMID: 17578664.
PMCID: PMC2443103.
34. Gaudet MM, Gammon MD, Bensen JT, Sagiv SK, Shantakumar S, Teitelbaum SL, Eng
SM, Neugut AI, Santella RM, Weston A. Genetic variation of TP53, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon-related exposures, and breast cancer risk among women on Long Island,
New York. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008;108(1):93-99. PMID: 17624591.
35. Schroeder JC*, Bensen JT* (*joint first authors), Su LJ, Mishel M, Ivanova A, Godley
P, Smith G, Fontham E, Mohler J. The North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project
(PCaP): methods and design of a multidisciplinary population-based cohort study of
racial differences in prostate cancer outcomes. Prostate. 2006 Aug 1;66(11):1162-1176.
PMID: 16676364.
36. Gaudet MM, Bensen JT, Schroeder J, Olshan AF, Terry MB, Eng SM, Teitelbaum SL,
Britton JA, Lehman TA, Neugut AI, Ambrosone CB, Santella RM, Gammon MD.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase haplotypes and breast cancer among women on Long
Island, New York. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2006 Sep;99(2):235-240. PMID: 16596327.
37. Gaudet MM, Gammon MD, Santella RM, Britton JA, Teitelbaum SL, Eng SM, Terry
MB, Bensen JT, Schroeder J, Olshan AF, Neuget AI, Ambrosone CB. MnSOD Val-9Ala
genotype, pro- and anti-oxidant environmental modifiers, and breast cancer among
women on Long Island, New York. Cancer Causes Control. 2005 Dec;16(10):1225-
1234. PMID: 16215873.
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 9
38. Sun J, Hedelin M, Zheng SL, Adami HO, Bensen J, Augustsson-Balter K, Chang B,
Adolfsson J, Adams T, Turner A, Meyers DA, Isaacs WB, Xu J, Gronberg H.
Interleukin-6 sequence variants are not associated with prostate cancer risk. Cancer
Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2004;13(10):1677-1679. PMID: 15466986.
39. Zheng SL, Augustsson-Balter K, Chang B, Hedelin M, Li L, Adami HO, Bensen J, Li G,
Johnasson JE, Turner AR, Adams TS, Meyers DA, Issacs WB, Xu J, Gronberg H.
Sequence variants of toll-like receptor 4 are associated with prostate cancer risk: results
from the CAncer Prostate in Sweden Study. Cancer Res. 2004;64(8):2918-2922. PMID:
15087412.
40. Bensen JT, Hsu FC, Brown WM, Sutton BS, Norris JM, Tracy RP, Jenny NS, Saad MF,
Haffner SM, Bowden DW, Langefeld CD. Association analysis of the plasminogen
activator inhibitor-1 4G/5G polymorphism in Hispanics and African Americans: the
IRAS Family Study. Hum Hered. 2004;57(3):128-137. PMID: 15297806.
41. Lindmark F, Zheng SL, Wiklund F, Bensen J, Balter KA, Chan B, Hedelin M, Clark J,
Stattin P, Meyers DA, Adami HO, Issacs W, Gronberg H, Xu J. H6D polymorphism in
macrophage-inhibitory cytokine-1 gene associated with prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer
Inst. 2004;96(16):1248-1254. PMID: 15316060.
42. Hart PS, Wright JT, Savage M, Kang G, Bensen JT, Gorry MC, Hart TC. Exclusion of
candidate genes in two families with autosomal dominant hypocalcified amelogenesis
imperfecta. Eur J Oral Sci. 2003 Aug;111(4):326-331. PMID: 12887398.
43. Bensen JT, Langefeld CD, Hawkins GA, Green LE, Mychaleckyj JC, Brewer CS, Kiger
DS, Binford SM, Colicigno CJ, Allred DC, Freedman BI, Bowden DW. Nucleotide
variation, haplotype structure, and association with end-stage renal disease of the human
interleukin-1 gene cluster. Genomics. 2003 Aug;82(2):194-217. PMID: 12837270.
44. Bensen JT, Lange LA, Langefeld CD, Chang B-L, Bleecker ER, Meyers DA, Xu J.
Exploring pleiotropy using principal components. BMC Genetics. 2003 Dec 31;4 Suppl
1:S53-S55. PMID: 14975121.
45. Bensen JT, Langefeld CD, Li L, McCall CE, Cousart SL, Dryman BN, Freedman BI,
Bowden DW. Association of an IL-1A 3’UTR polymorphism with end-stage renal disease
and IL-1 alpha expression. Kidney Int. 2003 Apr;63(4):1211-1219. PMID: 12631337.
46. Bensen JT, Dawson PA, Mychaleckyj JC, Bowden DW. Identification of a novel human
cytokine gene in the interleukin gene cluster on chromosome 2q12-14. J Interferon Cytokine
Res. 2001 Nov:21(11):899-904. PMID: 11747621.
47. Fossey SC, Mychaleckyj JC, Pendleton JK, Snyder JR, Bensen JT, Hirakawa S, Rich SS,
Freedman BI, Bowden DW. A high-resolution 6.0-megabase transcript map of the type 2
diabetes susceptibility region on human chromosome 20. Genomics. 2001 Aug;76(1-3):45-
57. PMID: 11549316.
48. Williams RR, Hunt SC, Heiss G, Province MA, Bensen JT, Higgins M, Chamberlain RM,
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 10
Ware J, Hopkins PN. Usefulness of cardiovascular family history data for population-based
preventive medicine and medical research (the Health Family Tree Study and the NHLBI
Family Heart Study). Am J Cardiol. 2001 Jan 15:87(2):129-135. PMID: 11152826.
49. Li R, Bensen JT, Hutchinson RG, Province MA, Hertz-Picciotto I, Sprafka JM, Tyroler A.
Family risk score of coronary heart disease (CHD) as a predictor of CHD: the
Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and the NHLBI family heart study.
Genet Epidemiol. 2000;18(3):236-250. PMID: 10723108.
50. Bensen JT, Liese AD, Rushing JT, Province M, Folsom AR, Rich SS, Higgins M.
Accuracy of proband reported family history: the NHLBI Family Heart Study (FHS). Genet
Epidemiol. 1999;17(2):141-150. PMID: 10414557.
51. Bensen JT, Li R, Hutchinson RG, Province MA, Tyroler HA. Family history of coronary
heart disease and pre-clinical carotid artery atherosclerosis in African-Americans and
whites: the ARIC study: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities. Genet Epidemiol.
1999;16(2):165-178. PMID: 10030399.
52. Bensen JT, Nelson LH, Pettenati, MJ, Block SM, Brusilow SW, Livingstone LR, Burton
BK. First report of management and outcome of pregnancies associated with hereditary
orotic aciduria. Am J Med Genet. 1991;41(4):426-431. PMID: 1776631.
53. Burton BK, Pettenati MJ, Block SM, Bensen J, Roach ES. Nonketotic hyperglycinemia in a
patient with the 9p- syndrome. Am J Med Genet. 1989;32(4):504-505. PMID: 2773994.
54. Bensen JT, Dillard RG, Burton BK. Open spina bifida: does cesarean section delivery
improve prognosis? Obstet Gynecol. 1988;71(4)532-534. PMID: 3281074.
55. Nelson LH, Bensen J, Burton BK. Outcomes in patients with unusually high maternal
serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1987;157(3)572-576. PMID:
2443008.
56. Bensen JT, Steele MW. A mildly retarded woman with 46,XX/47,XX, + 18 mosaicism.
Am J Med Genet. 1985;22(2):343-346. PMID: 4050867.
SUBMITTED/ACCEPTED PUBLICATIONS
1. Bretschneider CE, Doll KM, Bensen JT, Gehrig PA, Wu JM, Geller EJ.. Prevalence of
Pelvic Floor Disorders in Women with Gynecologic Malignancies. American Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynecology (Submitted December 18, 2015)
2. Steck SE, Arab L, Zhang H, Bensen JT, Fontham ETH, Johnson CS, Mohler JL, Smith
GJ, Su LJ, Trump DL, Woloszynska-Read A. Association between plasma 25-
hydroxyvitamin D, ancestry and aggressive prostate cancer among African Americans
and European Americans in PCaP. PlosOne (Submitted December 2, 2014)
3. Mariano C, Hanson LC, Deal AM, Yang, H, Bensen JT, Hendrix L, Muss HB.
Healthcare Satisfaction in Older and Younger Cancer Patients. Psychooncology
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 11
(Submitted November 30, 2014)
4. Family L, Bensen JT, Troester MA, Wu MC, Anders CK, Olshan AF. Single Nucleotide
Polymorphisms in Base Excision Repair Pathway Genes and Association with Breast
Cancer and Breast Cancer Subtypes among African Americans and Whites. Cancer
Causes and Control (Accepted November 25, 2014)
5. Steck SE, Arab L, Zhang H, Bensen JT, Fontham ETH, Johnson CS, Mohler JL, Smith
GJ, Su LJ, Trump DL, Woloszynska-Read A. Association between plasma 25-
hydroxyvitamin D, ancestry and aggressive prostate cancer among African Americans
and European Americans in the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project
(PCaP). Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (Submitted October 15, 2014)
6. Morris B, FarnanL, Song L,, Addington EL, Chen RC, Nielsen ME, Mishel M, Mohler
JL, Bensen JT. Treatment decisional regret among men with prostate cancer: Racial
differences and influential factors in the North Carolina Health Access and Prostate
Cancer Treatment Project (HCaP-NC). Cancer (Submitted October 9, 2014)
7. Vance TM, Wang Y, Su LJ, Fontham ETH, SE, Arab L, Bensen JT, Mohler JL, Chen M-
H, Chun OK. Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity is Inversely Associated with Prostate
Cancer Aggressiveness in a Population-Based Study. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers
& Prevention (Submitted October 2, 2014)
ABSTRACTS/CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Ruiz-Narváez EA, Haddad S, Haiman CA, Yao S, Sucheston-Campbell LE, Bensen JT, Lunetta
KL, Olshan AF, Ambrosone CB, Palmer.JR. Gene-based analysis of the fibroblast growth factor
receptor signaling pathway identifies an association of the FGF1 gene with risk of estrogen
receptor negative breast cancer: the AMBER consortium has been accepted for poster
presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research and will be published in the 2015
Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research. American Association for
Cancer Research Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April 18-22, 2015.
Ruiz-Narváez EA, Sucheston-Campbell LE, Bensen JT, Yao S, Haddad SA, Olshan AF,
Ambrosone CB, Palmer JR, Lunetta KL. Admixture scan of breast cancer in U.S. black women:
the AMBER consortium has been accepted for presentation at the American Society of Human
Genetics, San Diego, CA, October 18-22, 2014.
Addington EL, Calhoun LG, Cann A, Tedeschi RG, Furr S,
Song L, Mishel M, Bensen JT, Mohler JL. Religious Participation Predicts Prostate Cancer
Survivors’ Quality of Life has been accepted for poster presentation at the American
Psychological Association Annual Scientific Conference, Washington, D.C, August 8, 2014.
Matthews CA, Crane A, Irwin DE, Farnan L, Bensen JT, Whitehead W. Risk Factors for Fecal
Incontinence amongst Patients undergoing Cancer Treatment has been accepted for poster
presentation at the American Urogynecologic Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Washington,
DC, July 22-26, 2014.
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 12
Bretschneider CE, Doll KM, Bensen JT, Gehrig PA, Wu JM, Geller EJ. Prevalence of Pelvic
Floor Disorders in Women with Gynecologic Malignancies has been accepted for poster
presentation at the. Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS) 40th Annual SGS Scientific
Meeting, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, March 23 - 26, 2014
Doll KM, Snavely AC, Kalinowski A, Irwin DE, Bensen JT, Bae-Jump V, Boggess J, Soper J,
Brewster W, Gehrig PA. Preoperative quality of life in gynecologic oncology patients: A new
predictor of operative risk has been accepted for platform presentation at the Society of
Gynecologic Oncology’s Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer March 22-25, 2014.
Doll KM, Snavely AC, Kalinowski A, Irwin DE, Bensen JT, Bae-Jump V, Kim K, Van Le L,
Clarke-Pearson D, Gehrig PA. Obesity associated with worse quality of life in women with
gynecologic malignancies: An opportunity for improving patient centered outcomes has been
accepted for poster presentation at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s Annual Meeting on
Women's Cancer March 22-25, 2014.
Antwi S, Steck SE, Su LJ., Hebert JR, Zhang H, Pittman D, Fontham ETH, Bensen JT, Mohler
JL, Arab L. Associations between dietary antioxidant intake and prostate cancer aggressiveness
among African and European American men in the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer
Project (PCaP) has been accepted for poster presentation at the American Society of Preventive
Oncology Annual Meeting, Arlington, VA, March 8-11, 2014
Vance T.M., Azabdaftari G., Pop E.A, Lee S.G, Su L.J., Fontham E.T.H., Bensen J.T., Mohler
J. L., Chen M-H., Koo1 S.I, Chun O.K. Level of Cytoplasmic Thioredoxin Reductase 1 in
Prostate Tissue is Associated with Prostate Cancer Gleason Score, Total Antioxidant Capacity
and Erythrocyte Glutathione Peroxidase Activity. Experimental Biology, San Diego, CA April
26-30, 2014.
McMahon D.M., Steck S.E., Su L.J., Zhang H., Hebert J.R., Bensen J.T., Fontham E.T.H.,
Mohler J.L., Arab L. Multivitamin supplement use and prostate cancer aggressiveness by race in
the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP). Sixth AACR Conference on the
Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved,
Atlanta, GA, December 6-9, 2013.
Antwi S, Steck S.E., Su L.J., Blackard B., Arp-Adams S., Hebert J.R., Fontham E.T.H., Bensen
J.T., Mohler J.L., Arab L. Occupational and recreational physical activity in relation to prostate
cancer aggressiveness: The North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP). Sixth
AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and
the Medically Underserved, Atlanta, GA, December 6-9, 2013.
Steck S.E., Woloszynska-Read A., Arab L, McMahon D., Bensen J.T., Adams J., Fontham
E.T.H., Mohler J.L., Su L.J., Zhang H., Trump D., Johnson C. Ratio of plasma 1,25(OH)2D to
25(OH)D is inversely associated with aggressive prostate cancer in African Americans in the
North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP). Sixth AACR Conference on the
Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved,
Atlanta, GA, December 6-9, 2013.
Crane A.K., Irwin D.I., Farnan L., Bensen J., Matthews C.A., Whitehead W. Prevalence and Severity of Fecal Incontinence in Patients with Cancer. American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS)
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 13
34th Annual Scientific Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 16- 19, 2013.
Bensen, J.T. Design, Methods and Research Results: The North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Consortium (PCaP), PRACTICAL/CEC Prostate Cancer International Consortium, London, England, April 15-17, 2013
Woloszynska-Read A, Arab L, Bensen J.T., Adams J, Elizabeth T.H. Fontham E.T.H., Mohler J.L., Su J.L., Tabung F, Zhang H, Trump D, Johnson C, Steck S.E. Plasma 25(OH)D is associated with aggressive prostate cancer among African Americans in North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP). American Association for Cancer Research, Washington, DC, April 6-10, 2013.
Su J, Fontham T, Sun W, Simonsen N, Bensen J.T., Mohler J. Job History and Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness. American Association for Cancer Research, Washington, DC, April 6-10, 2013.
O’Brien K.M., Cole S.R., Bensen J.T., Engel L.S., Millikan R.C. Race and subtype differences in the replication of previously identified cancer susceptibility loci: A Bayesian approach. American Society of Preventive Oncology, Memphis, Tennessee, March 9-12, 2013.
Bensen, J.T., Cancer Survivorship Cohort Overview presentation. UNC Information Services Advisory Committee, January 24, 2013.
Bensen, J.T. Cancer Survivorship Cohort Overview presentation. UNC Hospital Clinical Cancer Program Advisory Committee, November 15, 2012.
George R.R., Steck S.E., Su L.J., Mohler J.L., Fontham E.T.H., Bensen J.T., Hebert J.R., Zhang H, Arab L. Flavonoid intake and prostate cancer aggressiveness among African Americans and European Americans in PCaP. American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Meeting, Anaheim, CA, October 16-19, 2012.
Bensen, J.T. Cancer Survivorship Cohort-GU Cancer-Specific Progress Report and Clinical Integration. Genitourinary Research Working Group, September 2012.
Bensen, J.T., Blackard, B., Carpenter, W.R., Chen, R.C., Godley, P.A., Mishel, M., Mohler, J.L., Shellie, E. Prostate Cancer Guideline-Concordance in a North Carolina Population-based Sample of African and Caucasian Americans. Academy Health Annual Research Meeting, Orlando, FL, June 24-26, 2012.
Bensen, J.T. Cancer Survivorship Cohort Design and Progress. Epidemiology Working Group at GlaxoSmithKline, April 18, 2012.
Bensen, J.T. Cancer Survivorship Cohort Overview. Tissue Procurement Facility Monthly Meeting. February 1, 2012.
Bensen, J.T. Cancer Survivorship Cohort Overview presentation. Pharmacogenomics Working Group. May 2, 2011.
Bensen, J.T. Cancer Survivorship Cohort Overview presentation. Cancer-Specific UNC Tumor Board Meetings, 2010-2013.
Bensen, J.T. PCaP Final Study Overview and Research Deliverables. PCaP DoD Site Visit. University of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C., 2010.
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 14
Bensen, J.T. Cancer Survivorship Cohort Overview. Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Town Hall Meetings, November 3, 2009 and May 29, 2012.
Bensen, J.T. PCaP Study Progress Update. PCaP Integration-Panel External Advisory Board Meetings. Annapolis, Maryland, Fall 2004-2008.
Bensen, J.T. PCaP Study Progress Update. PCaP Annual Meetings with Department of Defense. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. Spring 2004-2009.
Bensen, J.T., Lange, L.A., Langefeld, C.D., Chang, B-L., Bleecker, E.R., Meyers, D.A., and Xu, J. Exploring Pleiotropy using Principal Components. Genetic Analysis Workshop 13 (GAW13), New Orleans, Louisiana, November 11-14, 2002. BMC Genet. 2003 Dec 31; 4 Suppl 1:S53.
Bensen, J.T., Langefeld, C. D., Hawkins, G. A., Green, L. E., Mychaleckyj, J. C. , Brewer, C. S., Kiger, D. S., Binford, S. M., Colicigno, C. J., Allred, D., Freedman, B.I., and Bowden, D. W. Dense SNP map of Interleukin-1 gene cluster and end stage renal disease. Accepted poster presentation, the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Baltimore, Maryland, October 15-19, 2002. Amer J Hum Genet Supplement 71:461.
Bensen, J.T., Dawson, P.A., Mychaleckyj, J.C. and Bowden, D.W. (2001) Identification of a novel human cytokine gene in the interleukin gene cluster on chromosome 2q12-14. Accepted poster presentation, the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, San Diego, California, October 12-16, 2001. Amer J Hum Genet Supplement 69:358.
Liese, A., Evans, G., Bensen, J.T., Province, M.A., Folsom, A., Rich, S. and Higgins, M. (1997). Validation of Family History of Coronary heart Disease: The Family Heart Study (FHS)
Experience. Accepted poster presentation, the 16th Annual Education Conference at the National Society of Genetic Counselors on October 25-27, 1997 in Baltimore, Maryland. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 6(4).
Li, R., Bensen, J.T., Hutchinson, R.G., Province, M.A., Tyroler, H.A. Family risk score of coronary heart disease (CHD) as a predictor of CHD: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Poster presentation, the 4th International Conference on Preventive Cardiology Jointly with the 37th Annual Meeting of the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, American Heart Association, Montreal, Canada, June 29-July 3, 1997. Can J Cardiol 13(Suppl B);323B.
Bensen, J.T., Rushing, J., Province, M., Liese A., Folsom, A., Rich, S., Higgins, M.S. Accuracy of proband family history reporting: the Family Heart Study (FHS) experience. Platform presentation, the 29th Annual Meeting of the Society for Epidemiological Research, Boston, Massachusetts, June 1996. American Journal of Epidemiology 143(11), June 1, 1996.
Schreiner, P.J., Liao, D., Bensen, J.T., Higgins, M. Comparison of abdominal height and conventional anthropometry as predictors of lipid and hemostatic levels: the ARIC study. Poster presentation, the 35th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, March 1995. Circulation 91(3): P8.
Bensen, J.T., Tyroler, H., Province, M.A., Evans, G.W., Higgins, M., Hutchinson, R.G., Li, R., Sprafka, J.M., Heiss, G. Family history of coronary heart disease and carotid artery atherosclerosis: the ARIC and FHS studies. Poster presentation, 1994 National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Conference in Montreal, Canada. Journal of Genetic Counseling 3(4):296.
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 15
Bensen, J.T., "Update on cystic fibrosis testing", Medical Grand Rounds, the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, March 20, 1990.
Bensen, J.T., Nelson, L.H., Pettenati, M.J., Block, S.M., Brusilow, S.W., and Burton, B.K., Hereditary orotic aciduria: an association with 11;22 balanced translocation and familial inversion of chromosome 4. Poster presentation at 40th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Baltimore, Maryland, November 1989. Amer J Hum Genet Supplement 45:A39.
Bensen, J.T., "Fetal alcohol syndrome", Drug Awareness Week, Glenn High School, Kernersville, North Carolina, May 1989.
Bensen, J.T., Burton, B.K. Imperforate anus with hypospadias: evidence for X-linked recessive inheritance. Poster Presentation, 39th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, New Orleans, Louisiana, October 12-15, 1988. Amer J Hum Genet Supplement 43:A39.
Bensen, J.T., "Cystic fibrosis carrier testing and prenatal diagnosis", Pediatric Grand Rounds, the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, April 6, 1988.
Bensen, J.T., "Genetic implications and current advances in presymptomatic testing of Huntington disease", North Carolina Chapter Huntington's Disease Society, March 1988.
Bensen, J.T., Dillard, R.G., Burton, B.K. Open spina bifida: does cesarean section delivery improve prognosis? Poster presentation, 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Philadelphia, November 2-5, 1986. Amer J Hum Genet Supplement 39:A250.
SUBMITTED/ACCEPTED ABSTRACTS
Ruiz-Narváez EA, Haddad S, Haiman CA, Yao S, Sucheston-Campbell LE, Bensen JT, Lunetta
KL, Olshan AF, Ambrosone CB, Palmer JR. Gene-based analysis of the fibroblast growth factor
receptor signaling pathway identifies an association of the FGF1 gene with risk of estrogen
receptor negative breast cancer: the AMBER consortium. American Association for Cancer
Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 18-22, 2015. (Submitted December 3, 2014).
Antwi S, Steck SE, Su LJ, Hebert JR, Zhang H, Fontham ETH, Bensen JT, Mohler JL, Arab L.
Dietary, Supplement, and Adipose Tissue Tocopherol Levels in Relation to Prostate Cancer
Aggressiveness among African- and European-Americans. American Association for Cancer
Research Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 18-22. (Submitted December 3,
2014)
Antwi S, Steck SE, Su LJ, Taylor JA, Hebert JR, Zhang H, Fontham ETH, Bensen JT, Smith GJ,
Mohler JL, Arab L. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in DNA Repair and Oxidative Stress-
related Genes, Dietary Lycopene and a-tocopherol Intake, and Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness.
39th Annual American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO), Birmingham, Alabama, March
14-17, 2015. (Submitted November 24, 2014)
Bretschneider CE, Doll KM, Bensen JT, Gehrig PA, Wu JM, Geller EJ. Prevalence of Sexual
Dysfunction in Women Diagnosed with Gynecologic Malignancy. Society of Gynecologic
Oncologists, Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. Chicago Illinois, March 28-31. (Submitted
September 22nd, 2014)
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 16
Bretschneider CE, Doll KM, Bensen JT, Gehrig PA, Wu JM, Geller EJ.. Prevalence of Pelvic
Floor Disorders in Women with Gynecologic Malignancies. Society of Gynecologic Surgeons,
41st Annual Meeting Orlando, Florida, March 22-25, 2015. (Submitted September 17, 2014)
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AND DIRECTIONS
Predoctoral
1981-1990 Research Assistant Primarily involved in wet-lab experience with researchers
focused on the biochemical and genetic evaluation of various diseases including
thalessemia, diabetic nephropathy and adverse outcomes associated with elevated
maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. In some instances animal models
(mouse and rabbit) of human disease were employed and in others human case-
control samples were evaluated using a variety of techniques including,
electrophoresis, column chromatography, enzyme assay, spectrophotometry, DNA
isolation, DNA library screening and Southern blot analysis.
Genetic Counselor Research experience was focused in clinical genetics in the
subspecialties of both fetal-maternal medicine and pediatrics. Case reports of the
clinical management and outcome in patients with chromosomal abnormalities were
described. In addition, regional hospital-based patient populations were used to
investigate the predictive value of prenatal diagnostic tools (msAFP and ultrasound)
and delivery methods in high-risk pregnancies.
1990-1998 Research Associate/Project Manager While managing a Field Center in a multi-
center NHLBI funded observational study focused on the identification of risk
factors associated with atherosclerosis, I had the opportunity to participate in
Steering Committee meetings, write and review grants, develop protocols, quality
control measures, family history instruments, and provide standardized training
(ECG, heart rate variability, and pulmonary functions studies). As a genetic
counselor and manager of a large epidemiologic study, I understood the importance
of appropriate disease classification in providing accurate risk assessment in any
setting (clinical or epidemiologic) and wanted to investigate the accuracy of family
history data. At this time, I had access to an extensively phenotyped population-
based sample and a large number of family histories obtained from study
participants and their relatives. To analyze this variable, we needed to quantify, or
assign a score to each family history with respect to CHD risk, then use this score to
determine its predictive value. My goal was to understand more fully the
implications of this family history score and how it might vary depending on which
person in the family provided the history. In addition, I also wanted to evaluate the
validity with which individuals and their relatives reported CHD events. Could
these reports actually be confirmed through medical records or death certificates?
The investigations described above required a working knowledge of the family
history instrument, method of collection, CHD event definition and validation, and
family risk score algorithm. In addition, collaboration with statistical geneticists and
genetic epidemiologists was essential in analyzing this data.
Doctoral
1998-2002 Graduate Student In Dr. Donald Bowden’s lab I had the opportunity to pursue my
interest in inflammation and its role in complex disease by investigating the IL-1
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 17
gene cluster on chromosome 2q12-14 and its association to end-stage renal disease
(ESRD). My research goals included developing a single nucleotide polymorphism
(SNP) map and gene map across this 430 kb region. I assessed linkage
disequilibrium between SNPs and used haplotype prediction algorithms to predict
conserved haplotypes in Caucasians and African Americans. In addition, I
compared haplotypes between case-control individuals within each ethnic group.
In the process of developing the SNP and gene map I became proficient in utilizing
the various web-based databases and software tools to identify polymorphisms,
localize genes within BAC clones to order contigs, and bioinformatically identify
putative novel genes. I enjoyed generating hypotheses using bioinformatic tools and
designing experimental methods for their verification. I found and experimentally
verified a novel IL-1 receptor antagonist-like gene (IL1F10 (theta)) within the 2q12-
14 region using BLAST searches to map known genes to BAC clones. I
subsequently developed a SNP map across this gene that included several SNPs
leading to non-conserved amino acid changes.
I am also very interested in gene structure as it relates to function. In my pursuit of
this interest, I investigated the 3’UTR AU-rich elements found in IL-1A. Through
fragment assembly software I identified a novel variant, verified it experimentally,
and through collaborations demonstrated its impact on transcript stability and
subsequent protein production, as well as analyzed its association with complex
disease.
Postdoctoral
2002–2003 Postdoctoral Fellow As a postdoctoral fellow with Drs. Deborah Meyers and
Jianfeng Xu, I received additional training in epidemiology and genetic analysis.
Specifically, I was involved in a number of genetic research projects including:
(1) prostate cancer and inflammation (a candidate gene analysis), (2) linkage
analysis of asthma in Hispanics, African Americans and Caucasian populations,
(3) association analysis of candidate genes in the IRAS (insulin resistance and
atherosclerosis study-NIH multi-centered study) Family Study, (4) principal
components analysis of the Framingham Heart Study (GAW 13 data), and (5)
haplotype analysis of the IL-1 gene cluster. During my training, I audited an
Introduction to and Advanced Epidemiology course as well as learned a number
of genetic analysis software tools such as PHASE and HT-TAG (STATA).
During this postdoctoral training my goals included obtaining additional training
in epidemiology, genetic analysis (focused on association and haplotype analysis),
grant and manuscript writing. Along with Dr. Jianfeng Xu, I wrote and submitted
an R01 entitled “Association of inflammatory genes and prostate cancer”. In
addition, I was first author on several published manuscripts including:
“Association analysis of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene
4G/5G polymorphism in a study of insulin resistance in Hispanics and African
Americans: The IRAS Family Study” and “Nucleotide variation, haplotype
structure and association of the human interleukin-1 gene cluster with end stage
renal disease”.
Current & Future Directions
Bensen CV 10/18/2013 Page 18
Faculty Member My main research interest is to investigate the role genetics in
complex disease (ex. cardiovascular disease, cancer) in well-characterized clinical or
population-based sample groups with the goal being identification of risk groups for
targeted intervention strategies or altered treatment methods. My research focus is
on genetic variation in inflammatory and microRNA genes, in particular single
nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and haplotype analysis, and gene-gene and gene-
environment interaction in multiethnic epidemiologic studies. Additional interests
include utilization of public genomic databases and software for genetic data
analysis, as well as translational research with a focus on regulatory DNA
sequence motifs and protein expression.