Mollie E. Barnard, ScD

Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Mollie Barnard is a molecular and genetic epidemiologist whose research focuses on the etiology of breast and ovarian cancers and the elimination of racial disparities in cancer outcomes. She leverages large, diverse epidemiologic cohorts linked with molecular data to identify modifiable risk factors and biologic pathways that can be translated into prevention and survivorship strategies.

Dr. Barnard is Principal Investigator of an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant investigating how cardiometabolic health influences breast cancer risk, tumor biology, and immune profiles among Black women. By combining prospective cohort data with tumor gene expression and immune infiltration analyses, this work seeks to uncover mechanisms driving aggressive disease and to identify opportunities for targeted screening, prevention, and treatment.

Her prior research has examined the role of inflammation in ovarian carcinogenesis. Findings from her work on anti-inflammatory drug use and ovarian cancer risk indicated that the inverse association between aspirin use and ovarian cancer risk may be specific to low-dose aspirin. In related work, she demonstrated that women with deep infiltrating endometriosis and/or ovarian endometriomas have a substantially greater risk of ovarian cancer compared to those with less severe endometriosis subtypes.

Dr. Barnard is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists. She has mentored master’s students, PhD students, and medical students in cancer epidemiology, study design, and data analysis. She has a longstanding commitment to supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds, serving as a faculty mentor for the Society for Epidemiologic Research’s LGBTQIA+ mentoring group, mentoring students through the Dana-Farber Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Program, and volunteering as a program leader for Minds Matter Boston.

Publications

  • Published 9/4/2025

    Lawson-Michod KA, Johnson CE, Barnard ME, Davidson NR, Collin LJ, Nix DA, Huff CD, Berchuck A, Salas LA, Greene CS, Marks JR, Peres LC, Doherty JA, Schildkraut JM. Homologous recombination deficiency and survival in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma by self-reported race. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2025 Sep 04. PMID: 40905821.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/26/2025

    Yao S, Wei L, Hu Q, Liu S, Manojlovic Z, Fiorica PN, Long M, Zirpoli GR, Cai Q, Long J, Ping J, Barnard ME, Jin Y, Murakami M, Wang J, Zhu Q, Davis W, Chen J, Ondracek RP, Khoury T, Gandhi S, Takabe K, Ko N, Sanderson M, Hong CC, Bandera EV, Craig DW, Ambrosone CB, Palmer JR, Zheng W, Carpten JD. Mutational landscape of triple-negative breast cancer in African American women. Nat Genet. 2025 Sep; 57(9):2166-2176. PMID: 40858906.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/21/2025

    McCarty RD, Trabert B, Collin LJ, Millar MM, Kriebel D, Grieshober L, Barnard ME, Sawatzki J, Carter M, Yoder V, Gilreath JA, Grossman D, Hyngstrom J, Shami PJ, Doherty JA. Tattooing and risk of melanoma: a population-based case-control study in Utah. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2025 Aug 21. PMID: 40839395.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/13/2025

    Ping J, Jia G, Cai Q, Guo X, Wang J, Tao R, Li B, Bauer JA, Xie Y, Ambs S, Barnard ME, Chen Y, Choi JY, Gao YT, Garcia-Closas M, Gu J, Hu JJ, Iwasaki M, John EM, Kweon SS, Li CI, Matsuda K, Matsuo K, Nathanson KL, Nemesure B, Olopade OI, Pal T, Park SK, Park B, Press MF, Sanderson M, Sandler DP, Yao S, Zheng Y, Ahearn T, Brewster AM, Falusi A, Hennis AJM, Ito H, Kubo M, Lee ES, Makumbi T, Mapoko BSE, Noh DY, O'Brien KM, Ojengbede O, Olshan AF, Park MH, Reid S, Yamaji T, Zirpoli G, Butler EN, Huang M, Low SK, Obafunwa J, Weinberg CR, Zhang H, Zhao H, Ambrosone CB, Cote ML, Huo D, Haiman CA, Kang D, Palmer JR, Troester MA, Shu XO, Long J, Zheng W. Multi-Ancestry Transcriptome-wide Association Studies Uncover New Insights into Breast Cancer Genetics and Biology. medRxiv. 2025 Aug 13. PMID: 40832405.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/6/2025

    Barnard ME, Qin B, Emerson MA, Holder EX, Dunn MR, Sarkar S, Xu NN, Li Y, Ambrosone CB, Bandera EV, Palmer JR, Troester MA, Hyslop T. Associations between social drivers of health and breast cancer stage at diagnosis among U.S. Black women. NPJ Breast Cancer. 2025 Aug 06; 11(1):85. PMID: 40770199.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 42 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Center Faculty Member, Slone Epidemiology Center
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Websites

Education

  • Harvard School of Public Health, ScD
  • Harvard School of Public Health, SM/ScM
  • Swarthmore College, BA

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