James R. Hebert (pronounced Ā-bear), MSPH, ScD

Professor: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Director: South Carolina Statewide Cancer Prevention and Control Program
Hollings Cancer Center
Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston)

USC Cancer Prevention & Control Program
2221 Devine St, Room 244A
Columbia, SC 29208 (29205 for express delivery)
Tel:  803.734.4489
Fax:  803.734.5259
E-mail:  jhebert@sc.edu

Curricula Vitae (PDF)

Bibliographic Profile

1971 AB, Biology, Boston University
1979 Diploma, International Education, University of California, Berkeley
1980 MSPH, Environmental Health, University of Washington
1984 ScD, Nutritional Epidemiology, Harvard University

Research Interests

• Testing the specific effect of diet and related factors in causing cancer
• Designing studies to understand how changes in dietary risk factors affect both biomarkers of exposure and cancer-related outcomes
• Developing methods of intervening on diet, physical activity, and related factors to prevent cancer or alter its course in persons diagnosed with the disease
• Understanding the underlying psychosocial processes that determine success in prevention research
• Organizing a Statewide Cancer Prevention and Control Program targeted at large disparities in cancer rates that disfavor African-Americans and that will enable:
  • the adoption and dissemination of successful intervention strategies through community participatory research
  • identification of gaps in knowledge and recommendations for further research
  • feedback loops between the university and communities disproportionately affected by cancer

Research

Virtually all of the University of South Carolina’s epidemiologic cancer research is conducted in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program, directed by Dr. James R. Hebert, Health Sciences Distinguished Professor.

In the process of discovery, we collaborate and publish with hundreds of scientists at institutions around the country and the world. We also realize that no matter how well-meaning, research conducted elsewhere - or spearheaded by scientists based elsewhere - will not lead to practical advancement of knowledge as to why rates of many cancers are so much higher in South Carolina than in other places.

The Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the University of South Carolina is dedicated to discovering the underlying causes of some of the largest cancer disparities in the world, especially those in African-Americans in comparison to their European-American counterparts. The Program’s aim in discovery is to inform people and organizations who are willing and able to make a difference in the fight against cancer.

Courses Taught

EPID 745 Masters Seminar
EPID 763 Nutritional Epidemiology
EPID 746 Cancer Epidemiology (taught with PATH 760, Cancer Causes and Control, and PATH 710, Neoplasia)
EPID 801 Epidemiologic Methods III
EPID 845 Doctoral Seminar

Selected Publications

1. Hebert JR, Gupta PC, Mehta H, Ebbeling CB, Bhonsle RR, Varghese F. Sources of variability in dietary intake in two distinct regions of rural India: implications for nutrition study design and interpretation. Eur J Clin Nutr 2000; 54:479-486.
2. Fowke JH, Longcope C, Hebert JR. Brassica vegetable consumption shifts estrogen metabolism in healthy postmenopausal women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 2000; 9:773-779.
3. Hebert JR, Peterson KE, Hurley TG, Stoddard AM, Cohen N, Field AE, Sorensen G. The effect of social desirability trait on self-reported dietary measures among multi-ethnic female health center employees. Ann Epidemiol 2001; 11:417-427.
4. Matthews CE, Hebert JR, Freedson PS, Stanek EJ, Merriam PA, Ebbeling CB, Ockene IS. Sources of variance in daily physical activity levels in the Seasonal Variation of Cholesterol Study. Am J Epidemiol 2001; 153:987-995.
5. Saxe GA, Hebert JR, Kabat-Zinn J, Carmody JF, Rosenzweig PH, Jarzobski D, Reed GW, Blute RD. Can diet, in conjunction with stress reduction, affect the rate of increase in prostate-specific antigen after biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer? J Urol 2001; 166: 2202-2207.
6. Hebert JR, Gupta PC, Bhonsle RB, Mehta H, Mehta FS, Sanderson M, Teas J. Nutrient exposures and oral precancerous lesions in Srikakulum District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Public Health Nutr 2002; 5:303-312.