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 masters 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 the Rural & Underserved Utah Training Experience (RUUTE) Program, and volunteering as a mentor and program leader for Minds Matter Boston.

Publications

  • Published 6/6/2026

    Barnard ME, Xu NN, Holder EX, Jones D, Nayor M, Ko NY, Palmer JR. Hypertension, use of antihypertensive medications and breast cancer survival among Black women. Breast Cancer Res. 2026 Jun 06. PMID: 42251447.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/30/2026

    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 insights into breast cancer genetics and biology. Nat Commun. 2026 May 30. PMID: 42218145.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/29/2026

    McCarty RD, Trabert B, Millar MM, Kriebel D, Grieshober L, Barnard ME, Collin LJ, Gilreath JA, Shami PJ, Doherty JA. Associations Between Tattooing and Health Status: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study of Adults in Utah, 2020-2022. Public Health Rep. 2026 May 29; 333549261445868. PMID: 42216484.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/2/2026

    Li JL, Zhang H, Wang X, Jia G, McClellan JC, Guo W, Sun Y, Fiorica PN, Ambs S, Barnard ME, Chen Y, Garcia-Closas M, Gu J, Hu JJ, John EM, Nathanson KL, Nemesure B, Pal T, Shu XO, Press MF, Sanderson M, Sandler DP, Troester MA, Yao S, Long J, Ahearn TU, Brewster AM, Falusi A, Kraft P, Hennis AJM, Makumbi T, Mapoko BSE, O'Brien KM, Ojengbede O, Olshan AF, Reid S, Zirpoli G, Cai Q, Butler EN, Huang M, Obafunwa J, Weinberg CR, Ambrosone C, Ping J, Tao R, Li B, Guo X, Gao G, Conti DV, Chatterjee N, Palmer JR, Olopade OI, Zheng W, Haiman CA, Huo D. Improved polygenic risk prediction models for breast cancer subtypes in women of African ancestry. Nat Genet. 2026 Mar; 58(3):560-569. PMID: 41629673.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/1/2025

    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 Dec 01; 117(12):2495-2504. PMID: 40839395.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 48 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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