Veronica W. Setiawan, PhD

Dr. V. Wendy Setiawan is Professor of Population & Public Health Sciences and Professor of Medicine at USC, Co-Leader of the Cancer Epidemiology Program in the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Associate Director for Population Sciences in the USC Research Center for Liver Diseases. She is a cancer epidemiologist focusing on understanding the determinants of ethnic differences in cancer incidence and mortality and identifying populations at highest risk because of genetic and biologic factors, environmental exposures, or a combination of both. Her research goal is to identify effective modalities for disease prevention for population at risk and ultimately reduce cancer health disparities. Her primary research interest in cancer study is focused on liver, pancreatic, endometrial and breast cancer.

Dr. Setiawan received her BS in Biochemistry from UCLA, MS and PhD in Epidemiology from UCLA School of Public Health and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer and Genetic Epidemiology at Harvard and USC. Dr. Setiawan has been leading many projects in large epidemiologic studies including the Multiethnic Cohort Study and the NCI Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2). She received a National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s career development award (K07) early in her career, and she is currently Principal Investigator of NCI and NIMHD-funded R01s, NCI-funded U01, and co-investigator of multiple NIH grants. Her studies utilize multi-level data integration encompassing genetics, biomarkers, lifestyle, and social/contextual factors to elucidate factors associated with differences in cancer incidence and outcome across racial/ethnic groups. She has published >250 peer-reviewed papers as well as book chapters and review articles.

• USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center: Jane and Kris Popovich Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, 2020
• American Association for Cancer Research: AACR-AFLAC Scholar in Training Award, 2005
• USC: The USC Center of Excellence in Genome Science Pilot Project Award, 2004
• USC Keck School of Medicine: NIH Cancer Epidemiology Post-doctoral Traineeship, 2003
  – 2005
• Harvard School of Public Health: NIH Cancer Epidemiology Post-doctoral Traineeship, 2002
  – 2003
• American Society of Preventive Oncology: American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO) New Investigator Award, 2002
• UCLA: Ruth F. Richard’s Outstanding Student Award, 2002
• American Association for Cancer Research: AACR-Astra Zeneca Scholar in Training Award, 2001
• Public Health Honor Society, Delta Omega Society, Iota Chapter, 2000
• American Association for Cancer Research: Award to attend Pathobiology of Cancer Workshop, 2000
• Keystone Symposia: Molecular Epidemiology Symposia Funded Scholarship, 2000
• UCLA: Raymond Goodman Scholarship for Academic Excellence, 1999
• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO): Special Training Award Internship, 1999
• UCLA School of Public Health: NIH Cancer Epidemiology Pre-doctoral Traineeship, 1998
  – 2002

• Investigating PFAS as Emerging Risk Factors for Endometrial Cancer in US Populations
  NIH · R01MD021735 · Jul 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2031 · Role: Principal Investigator
• PFAS and liver cancer: linking epidemiological evidence with mechanistic studies
  NIH · R01CA300355 · Apr 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2031 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Comprehensive molecular characterization of endometrial cancer, etiologic heterogeneity, and racial disparities
  NIH · U01CA250476 · Feb 5, 2021 – Jan 31, 2027 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Mechanisms of Advanced NAFLD Disparities in Hispanics: A Multi-level Analysis
  NIH · R01MD015971 · Jan 1, 2021 – Nov 30, 2026 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Use of Circulating MicroRNAs for Early Detection and Risk Assessment for Pancreatic Cancer
  NIH · R01CA227133 · Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2024 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Understanding the Determinants of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Liver Cancer and Chronic Liver Disease in Understudied and High-Risk Populations
  NIH · R01CA228589 · Mar 6, 2018 – Aug 31, 2022 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Investigating the cause of racial/ethnic disparity in pancreatic cancer incidence
  NIH · R01CA209798 · Jun 6, 2017 – May 31, 2021 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Investigating the cause of racial/ethnic disparity in hepatocellular cancer risk
  NIH · R03CA186203 · Apr 1, 2014 – Sep 30, 2016 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Advances in Endometrial Cancer Epidemiology and Biology
  NIH · R13CA180637 · Mar 12, 2014 – Feb 28, 2015 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Type 1 and Type 2 Endometrial Cancer: Have They Different Risk Factors? A Pooled
  NIH · R03CA135632 · Apr 1, 2009 – Mar 31, 2013 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Genetic Variation in Estrogen Sulfation Genes and Endometrial Cancer Risk
  NIH · R03CA128008 · Aug 1, 2008 – Jul 31, 2012 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Genes, Hormones and Breast Cancer Risk
  NIH · K07CA116543 · Sep 18, 2006 – Aug 31, 2013 · Role: Principal Investigator

• Matsuo, Koji
• Haiman, Christopher
• Peters, Anne
• Roman, Lynda
• Wu-Williams, Anna
• Terrault, Norah