Research Summary
Dr. Keku has expertise in molecular epidemiology, cancer, translational research, and DEI. She directs the Enrichment Program and Diversity Initiatives. Her research spans basic sciences, translational, population sciences, and cancer health disparities, focused on the gut microbiome, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and genetic susceptibility in colorectal cancer, diverticulosis, microscopic colitis, and endometrial cancer. She has a long-standing interest in mentoring and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She has served as a facilitator to post-docs and junior faculty members on the UNC-DUKE PROMISE Study, an NIH funded (U01-GM132374) collaboration to address underrepresentation in the biomedical research workforce. She directs the Partners Program, a cancer education-training program funded by the NCI under the U54 mechanism. The UNC–NCCU U54 Partnership grant provides summer research experience in cancer biology and public health disparities to undergraduate students.
CGIBD Focus Area(s): Microbiome, Clinical/Translational Research
Pilot and Feasibility Award 1999
Collaborators: Dellon, Fodor, Peery, Sandler, Shaheen